I met Raila Odinga in 2012 when I was a student in Russia. At the time, he was Kenya’s Prime Minister, and he had traveled to Russia to attend the St. Petersburg Economic Forum at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin. For us Kenyan students studying abroad, the opportunity to meet Raila was thrilling.

A dinner had been organized for Kenyan students, business leaders, and friends of Kenya in Russia. When Raila finally walked into the hall, it was with the full trappings of power: aides, ministers, security, media, and an impressive delegation. As he entered, we students stood in two rows along the entrance to welcome him.