Under a grey Nairobi sky, thousands gathered at the Kasarani Stadium on Friday morning to bid farewell to one of Kenya’s most consequential political figures — Raila Amolo Odinga.
President William Ruto led the nation in paying respects as the late opposition leader’s body lay in state, marking the start of the official public viewing. Flanked by military officers, the President stood solemnly before the casket, bowing his head briefly as soldiers presented a slow, measured salute.
Raila, who died last Wednesday at 80, lay dressed in a dark suit with an orange scarf draped across his shoulders — the colour of his long-time party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Resting atop the casket was his signature white fedora, now a powerful symbol of a life spent in public service and political struggle.
The hat’s journey had been deeply personal. It was carried home from India by his daughter, Winnie Odinga, and handed to her mother, Ida, at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Thursday — a moment that moved the nation. At Kasarani, that same hat completed its passage, placed gently upon the coffin by the family.
After the President’s viewing, the stage was opened to the Odinga family. Ida, dressed in black, stood with quiet strength beside her children, Winnie and Raila Junior. Together, they viewed the body in silence, surrounded by the stillness of shared grief and the murmurs of thousands beyond the barricades.
A Luo traditional leader, clad in ceremonial attire and holding a fly whisk, performed a brief cultural rite before stepping aside — a symbolic farewell rooted in heritage and respect.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta followed soon after. Wearing a casual checked shirt, he approached the casket slowly, his expression heavy with reflection. The two men, once rivals turned allies, had shared a complex political journey — from fierce electoral contests to their symbolic 2018 “handshake,” which reshaped Kenya’s politics.
Uhuru paused, bowed his head, and walked away quietly, accompanied by his aide.
Other dignitaries — including Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, and Chief of Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri — also paid their respects. The general ended his salute with military precision, marking the close of the leaders’ procession.
Outside, mourners filled the stadium terraces, their songs and tears echoing across the stands. For many, this was not just a farewell to a politician, but to a man who embodied Kenya’s democratic struggle, its hope, and its unrelenting quest for justice.