Baba's last lap: Thousands honor Raila's life of service

Even in death, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga commanded the stage.

His final send-off, attended by the former and current Heads of State, dignitaries, and thousands of ordinary citizens alike, unfolded under a grey and drizzling sky at a national arena that seemed to reflect the nation's mood.

The ceremony, characterised by official pomp and deeply personal tributes, captured the essence of a man whose career was defined by his liberation struggle, his successes in keeping successive regimes in check, and a deep connection to his supporters.

In a solemn act that perfectly mirrored his complex legacy, the country yesterday bid a final, tearful farewell to Raila Amollo Odinga — the enigma. For a man who was never elected President, Raila was accorded a State Funeral as a statement to his influence.

The official journey for Kenyans to bid the former liberation champion goodbye yesterday began at 9 a.m. at Parliament Buildings, where his body was placed atop a catafalque to lie in state.

In line with protocol for leaders such as former Heads of State, his body was expected to lie in state before the funeral ceremony at Nyayo Stadium. Having his body there allowed the three arms of government — the Executive, Parliament, and the Judiciary — an opportunity to jointly honour his memory and service to the nation.

According to the State, the choice of Parliament as a venue for his reverence was because of the late leader’s long service to the institution and his contributions to lawmaking and governance.

After the viewing, his body was transported by a military gun carriage to Nyayo Stadium, where mourners had gathered amid heavy security presence. Waving flags, white handkerchiefs, and blowing on vuvuzelas, the ‘sea of orange’ at the stadium gave the funeral procession a thunderous reception.

Troops in line then proceeded to give Raila’s body a lap of honour before eventually engaging in a procession to the altar, where again his body was mounted on the catafalque.

President William Ruto, his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta, Heads of State Taye Atske-Selassie (Ethiopia), Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somalia), Vice President Philip Mpango (Tanzania), Rebecca Nyedeng (South Sudan), and former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete were some of the leaders at Nyayo Stadium, where thousands had gathered.

Raila’s family, led by his wife Mama Ida Odinga, Rosemary Odinga, Raila Odinga Junior, and Winnie Odinga, as well as their extended family that included his brother Oburu Odinga and his family — all garlanded the casket that stood draped in the Kenyan flag.

“We need peace in our homes, and peace will not survive a chaotic situation. For that reason, I appeal — today I appeal — let us mourn Raila in peace. I know you are all concerned. I know you are all mourning. You are sad about this, but let's keep peace so that peace can prevail, not only here in the stadium, but also in the rest of the country,” pleaded Mama Ida, who went on to praise her late husband as a gallant father, partner, and visionary leader.

“Raila hated dishonesty. He hated greed — the greed that has affected the main fabric of our society, the greed that leads to stealing from the public coffers, the greed that leads to corruption. That's the kind of thing that Raila would not have liked to see,” she added as she went down memory lane on their life together with the man she credits with having a forgiving spirit.

Against a backdrop of silent, weeping crowds, allies and old rivals alike gathered to pay their respects to a man whose influence transcended political affiliations.

Notably present were also members of the United Opposition — Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who has been Raila's running mate; Democratic Party Leader Justin Muturi; Kanu Chairman Gideon Moi; DAP–Kenya Leader Eugene Wamalwa; and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i — a testament to Baba's unifying factor.

When it was former President Uhuru’s turn to speak, he had to navigate a deafening applause from the mourners even as he described Raila as a man who shaped Kenya’s political story not just as a rival but as a partner in nation-building.

“Raila and I were navigators on opposing currents, charting different courses for the nation we both loved… At some point along that journey, we became political opponents. The competition was tough, but from it came respect and a shared patriotism,” he said.

He told of how the ‘Handshake’ between them in 2018 was a mirror of the true measure of Raila’s statesmanship.

“He made you sharpen your ideas, defend your positions, and think beyond yourself. He loved Kenya more than anything else. He was not tribal, and he always stood for unity, peace, and justice,” stated Uhuru.

To this end, he called on Kenyans to protect Raila’s legacy of democracy, integrity, and peace.

“As we bid him farewell, let’s promise to ensure that the democracy and freedoms Raila fought for will never be wiped away. We will not allow this country to go backwards. That is what Raila would have wanted,” Uhuru added.

President William Ruto described Raila as a once-in-a-generation leader whose impact transcended his moment, whose courage inspired change, and whose vision shaped destinies.

“As I have reflected on Raila's legacy following his passing, I have entertained no doubt in my mind that history will judge him fairly and kindly, because whenever the nation needed him to rise above self, he always did unreservedly. Whenever Kenya needed a reason, he became the voice of reason courageously. And whenever the country needed a hand of reconciliation, he offered it without hesitation,” the President said.

Reflecting on their shared political journey with Raila, he noted that he neither knew that one day they would find themselves on opposite sides of the political divide, nor that in a then distant future, he (Raila) would stand beside him — this time to steady the nation, culminating in the birth of a broad-based government.

“We have been both collaborators and competitors, friends and rivals, but always patriotic Kenyans, united by a dream greater than ourselves, a dream bigger than any partisan divide, a dream of our united motherland, Kenya,” said President Ruto.

“Perhaps one of the greatest lessons Raila taught us was this: in the noble task of statecraft and nation-building, there is room for all of us — competitors and collaborators, rivals and allies — bound together by one higher purpose: the greater good of our Republic.”

And while hailing Raila as “irrevocably stubborn” in his vision for a just, prosperous, and united Kenya, Ruto also lauded him for “giving more than most ever will” by enduring years of imprisonment, exile, and political struggle not for the privilege of power, but for the principle of service.

“In Tinga, Kenya found a reformer, a moral compass, and a reconciler. He proved that progress demands both courage and patience; that we must be stubborn on the vision, but agile on the details, adjusting our means, our plans, and our strategies, but never compromising our mission,” he observed.

As for the family, they promised a continuance of Raila’s legacy. Raila Odinga Junior vowed to safeguard his father’s legacy and keep the family unit intact during his speech at Nyayo Stadium.

“I am very alive to the fact that with my brother Fidel gone, I remain the gentleman of the family. Dad, I want to assure you that I will take care of our family — Mum, Rosie, Winnie — and the larger political family. Thank you for the gift of life, for giving me your name, and for never heaping the weight of it on me,” he said.

Winnie Odinga dismissed speculation surrounding the cause of her father’s death. In a tear-jerking speech, she said her father, who had been receiving medical treatment in India, died in her arms after showing signs of improvement.

“He died in my arms, but not the way people have been saying on social media,” she said.

“Every day he would wake up and walk… one round at first, then two. That morning, he managed five rounds. He died strong, with dignity and pride,” she recounted.

Winnie, the fourth child and second daughter of the late former premier, described her father as a hero who loved and sacrificed for his country.

She reflected on the many nicknames Kenyans had given him over the years.

“They called you Aluo, then Jaramogi son, then at some point Tinga, later Agwambo, and briefly they called you Nyundo. They called you Jakom, then Baba Fidel, but in the end, you were simply Baba,” she said.

Overcome with emotion, Winnie broke into her father’s favourite song, Harry Belafonte’s Jamaica Farewell, recalling his perseverance through decades of political struggle.

Following an afternoon of public viewing of his body at the stadium, his body was yesterday returned to Lee Funeral Home ahead of its airlifting to Bondo today.