Farewell, Befitting a King: Kenya Unites to Honor Raila Odinga

BONDO, Kenya — Kenya laid to rest former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga in a state funeral of historic scale, carried out within the 72-hour timeline he had requested. The farewell combined grief, dignity, and rare unity, bringing together leaders and citizens from across the world to honor a man whose influence shaped Kenya’s political destiny.

Odinga, 80, died on October 15, 2025, after suffering cardiac arrest in Kochi, India. In his final wishes, he asked to be buried within three days. The Kenyan government coordinated with Indian authorities to fulfill that wish, returning his body aboard a Kenya Airways flight designated RAO 001, accompanied by a delegation led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

Click here to view a photo tribute of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s final journey

When the plane landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, grief quickly turned chaotic. Thousands of mourners breached airport security and surged onto the tarmac, chanting “Jowi!” (Dholuo for a fearless charging buffalo) and singing Luo dirges as uniformed soldiers prepared to move the casket draped in the Kenyan flag. Opposition leader Martha Karua, who had come to receive the body, was among the dignitaries seen leaving hurriedly as police struggled to restore order.

From the airport, the body was taken to Parliament for public viewing, followed by a state funeral at Nyayo National Stadium and an overflow viewing at Kasarani Stadium. Several people were killed when police opened fire during stampedes as crowds attempted to access the venues, highlighting the depth of public emotion and the strain on security forces.

By the time the casket reached Bondo, Siaya County, order had returned. The final service, held at Kang’o ka Jaramogi, was solemn, well-organized, and filled with prayer and reflection. The government accorded Odinga full military honors, including a 17-gun salute, the highest recognition for a former prime minister under military protocol.

Dignitaries in Attendance

Among those who spoke were President William Ruto, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and opposition leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Odinga’s three-time running mate. Other dignitaries included Martha Karua, Fred Matiang’i, Eugene Wamalwa, and former Chief Justice David Maraga. Notably absent was former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

President Ruto said he approved the state funeral because Odinga was “the People’s President”, describing him as “a patriot of uncommon courage, a pan-Africanist, and a unifier who sought peace and justice above power.” His decision to grant Odinga a full state funeral won praise from the Odinga family and the Luo Nation, who said it marked a moment of healing and inclusion.

Siaya Governor James Orengo thanked President William Ruto for granting Raila Odinga a state funeral, noting it was the first time the region had witnessed such an honor with full military rites. He reminded mourners that when Raila’s father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, died, the Moi government denied their request for a state funeral, forcing the family and community to find creative ways to give him a dignified send-off.

Mama Ida Odinga delivered a moving tribute on behalf of the family, joined by the couple’s children Rosemary, Raila Jr., and Winnie, and Odinga’s elder brother, Senator Oburu Oginga. Their remarks blended personal memory with gratitude to the nation for honoring his legacy.

Across Kenya and the world, millions mourned. Candlelight vigils were held in several locations in the diaspora, where members of the diaspora gathered to celebrate the life of Baba, as Odinga was affectionately known.

A Leader Beyond Politics

Raila Odinga’s life spanned Kenya’s most turbulent political decades, from 9-year imprisonment without trial under one-party rule to leadership in the pro-democracy movement and the creation of the 2010 Constitution. He was often called both a reformer and a rebel, a man who lost elections but never lost conviction.

Speaker after speaker at the funeral described him as selfless and principled, recalling his belief that politics was about service, not animosity. Even in death, Odinga united leaders once bitterly opposed to him. The image of President Ruto presiding over his state funeral symbolized reconciliation in a country long divided along political and ethnic lines.

A Nation Reflects

The state funeral tested Kenya’s capacity to mourn a national icon with grace. The 72-hour timeline required swift coordination between governments. The chaos at the airport and the deaths during the viewings exposed the risks of uncontained public passion. Yet the final day in Bondo showed the country’s ability to find order, dignity, and peace in farewell.

Odinga’s burial beside his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, carried deep national symbolism. The moment closed a generational circle, from the country’s first vice president to its most enduring opposition leader.

End of an Era

As the sun set over Bondo and the final 17 shots echoed across the fields, thousands of mourners waved flags and sang “Baba! Baba!” in unison. The farewell, befitting a king, marked the end of an era and the beginning of reflection for a nation that he helped to shape.

Raila Odinga’s journey, from prisoner to prime minister, from protest to peace, left an indelible mark on Kenya’s conscience. His final sendoff was not only a tribute to his life’s work but also a testament to a nation learning, at last, to honor its heroes with unity and respect.