Hundreds of mourners, dignitaries, and citizens from all walks of life gathered at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi on Friday to bid a final farewell to Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, the veteran Kenyan statesman and former Prime Minister who passed away earlier this week at the age of 80.
The solemn State funeral ceremony, filled with emotion and reverence, drew a powerful show of unity, with leaders from across Africa coming together to honor a man who shaped Kenya’s political landscape for over four decades.
Among those in attendance were Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, Vice President of South Sudan, who represented the South Sudanese government and paid her respects on behalf of President Salva Kiir and the people of South Sudan.
Speaking during the ceremony, President Ruto described Raila Odinga as a “towering figure in Kenya’s democratic journey,” lauding his relentless fight for justice, multiparty democracy, and social equity.
“Raila stood for democracy, justice, and the unity of our nation,” Ruto said. “Even when in disagreement, he inspired respect. His contribution to Kenya’s political evolution will never be forgotten.”
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who forged a historic reconciliation with Raila in 2018 through the “Handshake” initiative, gave a deeply personal tribute, calling Odinga “a fearless patriot and a father of modern Kenyan democracy.”
“Raila made sacrifices few can imagine for this country. He always put Kenya first, even when it came at great personal cost,” Kenyatta remarked.
Winnie, Odinga, the daughter of the Late former Prime Minister said her father left this world strong, with dignity and pride.
“I was by his side when he took his final breath. He passed away in my arms — but not in the way some have claimed on social media. He left this world strong, with dignity and pride. That is how you should remember him. Walk tall. Hold your heads high. He left us as a true gentleman,” she said.
Born in 1945, Raila Odinga was a central figure in Kenya’s second liberation struggle, enduring detention, political exile, and multiple presidential campaigns.
As Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013, he helped steer Kenya through a difficult coalition government and later remained a prominent voice for opposition politics and governance reforms.
Odinga’s death marks the end of an era for many Kenyans who saw in him a relentless crusader for constitutionalism, social justice, and national reconciliation.
In early 2025, Raila Odinga visited South Sudan as part of his diplomatic campaign for the African Union Commission Chairmanship, seeking Juba’s endorsement for his candidacy.
During his visit, he held high-level talks with President Salva Kiir Mayardit, First Vice president Dr. Riek Machar Teny, Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, and other senior government officials, where he emphasized the importance of regional unity, economic integration, and peacebuilding key pillars of his vision for the African Union.
His visit was well received, with South Sudanese leaders praising his long-standing commitment to pan-African ideals and his role in promoting peace in the Horn of Africa.
