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Huge crowds of people gathered at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium to pay their respects to Odinga [Photo: Reuters]
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KISUMU
Tens of thousands of mourners on Saturday gathered in the lakeside city of Kisumu to pay their final respects to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, a towering figure in Kenyan politics and a symbol of the nation’s democratic struggle. The 80-year-old’s body now lies in state at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in his political heartland, following a state funeral held on Friday in Nairobi, two days after his death at a hospital in India. Security was tight across Kisumu and surrounding areas, with security forces placed on high alert after at least five people were reported dead during earlier mourning events across the country.
“I have come here to mourn an icon of Africa,” said Dixon Ochieng, one of the mourners, while others wailed, “We are orphans,” as grief swept through the stadium.
By dawn, crowds of mourners — men, women, and children — had already begun streaming into the venue. Many wore orange, the color of Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), and waved green branches, a traditional Luo symbol of mourning and grief.
Odinga's beloved fedora hat and fly whisk were placed on top of his coffin [File: BBC]
A Lifelong Champion of Democracy
Odinga was Kenya’s main opposition leader for decades, contesting and losing five presidential elections, the most recent three years ago. He consistently claimed he was denied victory through electoral malpractice and manipulation. Following the disputed 2007 election, which sparked widespread violence, Odinga became Prime Minister in a power-sharing government — a move that helped restore peace and stability.
He is widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of Kenya’s multi-party democracy, earning a near-reverent following, especially in western Kenya. “I remember him for giving us democracy, for giving us freedom,” said Jacob Omondi, one of the mourners. “Now we can talk and speak freely about what affects us — that is Raila’s legacy.” Another mourner, David Ouma, added: “What I learned from Raila is resilience. Through every election, even after defeat, he always rose to try again.”
Global Tributes Pour In
Among the international figures paying tribute was former U.S. President Barack Obama, whose Kenyan family hails from the same region.
“Raila Odinga was a true champion of democracy,” Mr. Obama wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “A child of independence, he endured decades of struggle and sacrifice for the broader cause of freedom and self-governance in Kenya.”
“Time and again, I personally saw him put the interests of his country ahead of his own ambitions. Like few other leaders anywhere, he chose the path of peaceful reconciliation without compromising his core values,” Obama added.
Final Resting Place
Odinga will be laid to rest on Sunday at his private farm in Bondo, about 60 kilometers west of Kisumu, in what is expected to be a private family ceremony. According to family members, it was his wish to be buried within 72 hours of his passing — a reflection of his humility and respect for tradition.
As the sun set over Lake Victoria, Kisumu remained united in grief — mourning not just a politician, but a man whose life defined Kenya’s long, unfinished journey toward democracy and justice.
Torch Media Africa
