In Kenyan political lore, few symbols carry as much weight—both literal and metaphorical—as Raila Odinga’s 2007 campaign hammer. Wielded during the heated 2007 presidential campaigns, the hammer became an icon of defiance, grassroots energy, and a promise to “hammer” poverty, corruption, and injustice.
Now, nearly two decades later, the famous hammer is set to be restored and permanently displayed at the Kang’o Ka Jaramogi Museum in Bondo, Siaya County. This move isn’t just about preserving a campaign prop—it’s about curating Kenya’s political memory and honoring the visual language of its democracy.
1. The Hammer’s Origin: How It Became a Symbol
The 2007 Campaign Context:
Slogan: “Kibaki Tosha!” had defined 2002. In 2007, Raila’s ODM needed a fresh, tangible symbol.
The Prop: A large, wooden mallet-style hammer began appearing at rallies.
The Message: Raila would raise it high, declaring he would “hammer down”:
Poverty
Corruption
Inequality
Constitutional impasses
Public Reception:
Supporters brought miniature hammers to rallies.
The press dubbed it “The ODM Hammer.”
Opponents mocked it as “theatrical”—but it undeniably captured public imagination.
2. Where Has the Hammer Been All These Years?
After the 2007 election and the ensuing post-election violence, the hammer quietly disappeared from public view. For years, its whereabouts were subject to speculation:
Rumors: Some said it was stored at Raila’s Capitol Hill offices; others believed it was kept at his Bondo home.
Truth: It was preserved by the ODM secretariat in Nairobi, though in deteriorating condition.
Rediscovery: During archival work for the Kang’o Ka Jaramogi Museum, the hammer was identified as a key artifact worthy of restoration and display.
3. The Restoration Project: Bringing History Back to Life
Led by:
National Museums of Kenya (conservation experts)
ODM Party Heritage Committee
Family of Raila Odinga
Process:
Assessment: Checking for wood rot, metal rust, fabric fading.
Gentle Cleaning: Removing dust, old paint splatters (from rally confetti and powder).
Stabilization: Treating wood, reinforcing handle.
Documentation: Photographing and recording every mark, scratch, and inscription (including supporters’ tiny signatures from 2007).
Display Design: Climate-controlled glass case with narrative panels.
4. Symbolism: More Than Just Wood and Nails
What the Hammer Represented in 2007:
People’s Power: A tool of the common mwananchi.
Breaking Barriers: Promise to dismantle oppressive systems.
Urgency for Change: After the stalled reforms of the NARC era.
What It Represents Today:
Political Heritage: How symbols mobilize masses.
Memory of 2007: A bittersweet artifact from Kenya’s most divisive election.
Continuity of Struggle: Raila’s enduring role as Kenya’s “agitator-in-chief.”
5. Kang’o Ka Jaramogi Museum: A Home for Political Memory
Location: Bondo, Siaya County (ancestral home of the Odinga family).
Mission: To preserve the legacy of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and the broader struggle for democracy in Kenya.
Other Artifacts Include:
Jaramogi’s famous flywhisk and walking stick
Original copies of the 1992–1997 opposition documents
Personal letters between Kenyan leaders during critical political moments
Photographic archives of major rallies and protests
The Hammer’s Place: Will be displayed in a section titled “Symbols of Resistance.”
6. Public & Political Reactions to the Restoration News
Supporters & Historians:
“Perfect!” – A political historian notes: “This is how you build a living political archive, not just of winners, but of the symbols that moved the nation.”
Emotional Value: Older ODM supporters recall the hope of 2007.
Critics & Skeptics:
“Political Theater” – Some argue it glorifies a painful election period.
“Why Now?” – Seen by opponents as part of Raila’s legacy curation ahead of 2027 succession politics.
Neutral Observers:
Praise the move as important for Kenya’s political museum culture.
7. Similar Political Artifacts Preserved Globally
South Africa: Nelson Mandela’s prison letters at Constitution Hill.
USA: Abraham Lincoln’s top hat at the Smithsonian.
Ghana: Kwame Nkrumah’s spectacles and pen at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum.
India: Mahatma Gandhi’s spinning wheel at the National Museum.
Kenya is now joining nations that treat political symbols as national heritage.
8. The Bigger Picture: Preserving Kenya’s Democratic Journey
This restoration raises questions:
Whose political symbols get preserved?
How do we remember contested histories?
Can museums help heal political divisions?
The Kang’o Ka Jaramogi Museum aims not to glorify one side, but to document the textures of Kenya’s democracy—its slogans, symbols, conflicts, and reconciliations.
9. How to Visit & Witness History
Museum: Kang’o Ka Jaramogi Museum, Bondo Town.
Opening Date for Hammer Display: Expected December 2025 (coinciding with 18th anniversary of 2007 elections).
Entry: Affordable fees; students and scholars encouraged.
Virtual Tour: Being developed for online access.
Conclusion: A Tool of Politics, Now a Tool of Memory
Raila Odinga’s 2007 hammer is no longer just a campaign prop—it is a historical artifact, a teaching tool, and a mirror of Kenya’s political passions. Its restoration and display represent a maturing of Kenya’s relationship with its political past—where even divisive symbols can find a place in the national story.
As one curator involved remarked: “We are not preserving a hammer. We are preserving the energy of millions who believed change was possible.”
