Raila’s body arrived at Parliament Buildings this morning a moment heavy with silence and respect. MPs, foreign reps, and leaders lined up to view and pay their last respects before the final service at Nyayo Stadium. Security was tight, but the crowds overwhelming. Kenya showed up.
By nine-thirty, the service began the President, Deputy President, and the Odinga family side by side for the Anglican rites. Tributes flowed in, one after another, painting a picture of the man Kenya will never forget.
Safaricom’s CEO called him a unifying force pledging to support youth programs in his honor. Barclays Africa echoed that, highlighting his hand in economic reforms, promising donations to local charities. Coca-Cola Kenya praised his enduring legacy, their top execs stood among the mourners. Even global names like Intel and Google have begun sharing messages on his vision for innovation the impact clearly went beyond our borders.
Deputy President Kindiki led the planning committee, working closely with the family to ensure every step reflected dignity. From Ethiopia’s PM Abiy Ahmed to Zimbabwe’s Nelson Chamisa world leaders came to stand with Kenya. Gor Mahia, his beloved club, was there too, their presence a quiet nod to the man who lived and breathed unity, even through sport.
Dignitaries began streaming in early. Ethiopia’s President Taye Atske Selassie was among the first to arrive, welcomed personally by CS Aden Duale. Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud touched down at JKIA without a hitch. Tanzania’s Vice President Philip Mpango and South Sudan’s Rebecca Nyandeng are both on the ground, their presence a mark of deep respect.
Former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete shared a warm embrace with Kalonzo on arrival a moment that spoke volumes. Rwanda and Congo kept it quiet, sending ministers instead still, their presence didn’t go unnoticed.
It was a moment that said more than words could a reminder of the bonds Raila built across generations in East African politics. The air shifted from arrivals to quiet anticipation. Raila’s casket, wrapped in the Kenyan flag, moved slowly from Parliament along Uhuru Highway, guarded by the military in full honor. People lined the road, holding placards with his words Baba wa Taifa written in bold.
Security was tight, keeping order, though reports from Kisumu spoke of brief unrest earlier. Local leaders called for calm as the body made its way home.By the time it reached Nyayo, the crowds had already filled every corner chants of Harambee rising through the air as helicopters hovered above, capturing a nation standing still for one man.
Right on time, the state funeral began full military honors, the kind that make the air stand still. A 21-gun salute broke through the morning calm, followed by the slow, aching notes of the Last Post. President Ruto sat in the front row beside Deputy President Kindiki and the Odinga family, as Archbishop Ole Sapit opened with a prayer for healing not just for the family, but for the nation.
Inside Nyayo, more than 50,000 people went silent. Outside, giant screens carried those tender family moments to the crowds still waiting Kenya breathing as one. The eulogies flowed like memory itself one voice after another, each carrying a piece of him. Raila Junior took the mic first. His voice trembled, grief barely held together. “Baba taught us justice isn’t given it’s taken,” he said, pausing to breathe through the weight of it. “I’ll continue his fight, no matter what.” The crowd rose with him, voices swelling into one familiar chant“Baba wa Taifa.”
Ida Odinga stood strong, though her grief was heavy in the air. She asked the nation to mourn Raila in peace not just at Nyayo, but everywhere. She spoke of family, of the meaning behind their children’s names, reminding parents to name with purpose, to build legacy even in small ways.
Winnie Odinga stepped up with that quiet fire she’s known for. She called her father “a thunderous voice for the forgotten,” her tone steady, eyes unflinching. You could feel the weight of legacy in her words. Then she vowed to carry his fight forward same strength, same stubborn hope.
Rev. David Kodia took the mic and didn’t hold back. He called out looters straight from the pulpit “If you’ve plundered this nation, you stand condemned before God and history.” The crowd went still, some nodding, some uneasy. It was the kind of truth Raila himself would’ve echoed. Then Oburu Odinga, ever the brother with timing, broke the heaviness introducing his second wife with a laugh that rolled through the stadium. For a moment, grief gave way to warmth.
Then came the leaders Ethiopia’s President Selassie calling Raila “the architect of our shared prosperity,” Somalia’s Mohamud calling him “a beacon against chaos.” To lift the weight of the speeches, the stadium choir began to sing Raila’s favorite, Jamaica Farewell. The melody drifted over a sea of black, soft voices joining in, phones held high to capture the moment. It was a rare wave of joy in the grief, a quiet nod to the man who loved bringing people together.
Local tributes started flowing in one by one. Ababu Namwamba spoke first, linking Raila’s love for Gor Mahia to something bigger national unity. Then came Oscar Sudi, catching everyone off guard with a simple line: “He was my mentor in the trenches.” You could feel the honesty in it. Later, Martha Karua, Matiang’i, Muturi, and Eugene Wamalwa walked in together, settling near Azimio allies a quiet show of respect. Later, Matiang’i wrote online, “Mourning a statesman whose vision shaped our democracy.”Notably missing was Rigathi Gachagua, still shadowed by the recent storm over Raila’s health.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki took the mic with the calm precision of a man holding history in his hands. His speech wasn’t loud, but it carried weight fifteen minutes of gratitude and reflection that framed Raila not just as a Kenyan figure, but a regional and global one.
He began where it mattered with the Odinga family before moving through the long list of condolences that had poured in from every corner of the world. Each name, each nation, a reminder of how far Raila’s voice had reached. The stadium stayed silent, every acknowledgment met with quiet applause, as if each country mentioned was another piece of the legacy being laid to rest.
Here is the full list, a testament to Raila 's worldwide web:
Heads of State and Governments
President Samia Suluhu Hassan (Tanzania): Formal condolences sent; represented by VP Philip Mpango and Foreign Minister January Makamba, both present.
Former President Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania): Joined the delegation in person.
President Yoweri Museveni (Uganda): Heartfelt condolences extended.
President Paul Kagame (Rwanda): Condolences via Interior Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, on-site.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somalia): In attendance after sending regrets.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Ethiopia): Condolences relayed; represented by President Taye Atske Selassie.
President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (Djibouti): Official message of solidarity.
President Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia): Warm tribute received.
President Bola Tinubu (Nigeria): Noted Raila's continental inspiration.
President Nana Akufo-Addo (Ghana): Expressed deep sorrow.
President Évariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi): Sent formal regrets.
President Julius Maada Bio (Sierra Leone): Honored the statesman's legacy.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe): Condolences on behalf of the nation.
President Adama Barrow (The Gambia): Shared in the grief.
President Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa): Praised Raila's unity efforts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (India): Extended sympathies.
President Félix Tshisekedi (DR Congo): Represented by minister on ground.
Global Organizations and Leaders
UN Secretary-General António Guterres: Formal condolences from the UN.
AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat: Highlighted Raila's Pan-African role.
Head of the EU Delegation to Kenya: EU-wide tribute.
UN Under-Secretary-General Amani Abou-Zeid (UNECA Executive Secretary): Economic legacy noted.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: Health diplomacy remembered.
Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General: Commonwealth solidarity.
IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu: Regional peace efforts saluted.
EAC Secretary-General Peter Mathuki: East African community mourning.
Other Key Figures and Envoys
US Senator Jim Risch (Senate Foreign Relations Chair): Bipartisan US regrets.
UK Minister for International Development and Africa (Jenny Chapman): Apologies for absence.
Italy (Deputy Head of Mission, Italian Embassy): Condolences via embassy.
High Commissioner of Australia: Official message.
High Commissioner of Canada: Shared condolences.
Ambassador of the Russian Federation: Diplomatic tribute.
Ambassador of the People's Republic of China: Noted enduring ties.
Ambassador of the Czech Republic: Formal sympathies.
Ambassador of Switzerland: Expressed sorrow.
Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany: Honored the friendship.
South Sudan's VP Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior: Present
When Kindiki finally closed, his voice softened. He looked out at the crowd and said, “Raila’s light touched every corner let it guide us still.”
Then former President Uhuru Kenyatta stepped forward stealing the show. His voice was steady, but the light caught the glint in his eyes. He delivered a eulogy that was personal, honest, bridging rivalry and respect. Raila was remembered not just as a political giant, but as a “thunderous voice” now stilled. Uhuru’s message was clear, honor him by building the peace he lived for.
He mentioned how Raila wasn’t just a colleague he was a friend, a brother, a constant presence in his life. He further added how the country has lost a father to the nation, a man who never stopped fighting for the people. He continued by saying his legacy wasn't only in politics, but in the peace he carved out, the humanity he showed, the Baba he was to Kenya. A moment that shows how the country had lost a giant.
Lastly, President Ruto came on and he thanked the massive turnout and framed it as proof of the bond Raila always had with the people. You could hear the gratitude in his voice when he said, “Thank you, my fellow Kenyans, for showing up like this. For welcoming Hon. Odinga home.”
He paused, almost taking in the sight himself. “The love you’ve shown,” he continued, “is a reminder that to the very end, Raila was a man of the people devoted, selfless, and true to what this country stands for.”
Ruto’s tone softened as he spoke of Raila, almost like he was remembering a private moment. He remembered how Raila helped him when he needed someone to steady the country. The President added that “We’ll work hard to honor what you stood for.”
At the heart of his speech, Ruto lingered on what Raila had done for Kenya the kind of impact that outlives titles. He called him “a patriot whose relentless fight for justice and democracy reshaped our nation’s politics and spirit.” He spoke of Raila’s bridge-building too how his stubborn hope and steady dedication to fairness stitched together a country once torn apart, leaving behind not just a legacy, but a lesson in unity.
He promised to keep Raila’s spirit alive through youth programs and the reforms he championed. And with a quiet heaviness, he said, “Today we lay to rest not just a man, but the conscience of Kenya. The work he began is now ours to finish"
He ended on a note of quiet strength turning to the family, then to the nation.
"To Mama Ida, the children, and everyone who loved him mourn, but rise. Raila taught us that defeat isn’t failure, conviction isn’t arrogance, and peace will always stand taller than pride."
The words hung in the air for a moment before the crowd rose, clapping through their tears. As Ruto stepped down, the military honors took over, marking the close of the day and his voice, the last to echo in Raila’s farewell.
