Under the grey Nairobi skies, thousands of Kenyans filled Nyayo National Stadium on Friday to bid farewell to former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga — a man whose political journey shaped the nation for more than four decades.

From the early hours of the morning, mourners streamed into the stadium, waving Kenyan flags and clutching portraits of the late opposition leader. Many wore T-shirts printed with his familiar smiling face, a symbol of defiance and hope for generations.

The air was heavy with emotion. When Odinga’s flag-draped coffin entered the arena in a ceremonial military procession, the crowd rose to its feet, breaking into chants, whistles, and song.

“Raila usilale, bado mapambano!” they shouted — a Swahili rallying cry meaning, “Raila, don’t sleep, the struggle is not over.” It was a call for his spirit to remain alive in the nation’s ongoing political journey.

Security was tight throughout the event, with police and soldiers positioned around the stadium to prevent unrest. Just a day earlier, chaos had marred public viewing at Kasarani Stadium, where police fired tear gas and live rounds to control massive crowds. At least three people were reported dead.

Friday’s ceremony, however, unfolded in solemn order.

President William Ruto led the nation in mourning, his tribute both emotional and symbolic. At one point, he broke into “Jamaica Farewell,” Raila’s favourite song by Harry Belafonte. As Ruto hummed the opening lines, the DJ faded in the original recording. The crowd joined in softly — a rare moment of unity, grief, and song.

“Today, those words carry deep meaning,” Ruto said after the melody faded. “Our elder statesman is sailing home, not to Jamaica, but to his final rest.”

First Lady Rachel Ruto and Mama Ida Odinga sat side by side, their quiet strength a reflection of shared national loss.

When Ida Odinga rose to speak, her message was simple but powerful. “I appeal to everyone — let us mourn Raila in peace,” she said, her voice breaking slightly. “He hated dishonesty and greed — the kind that tears at the fabric of our nation.”

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta followed with a lighter moment, remembering his friend and political rival with warmth. “Sometimes after work, we would just sit together, talking and laughing,” he recalled, drawing a ripple of laughter from the crowd.

The service was led by Bishop David Kodia, who praised Odinga as “a man who never used his power or wealth to intimidate others.”

Earlier in the day, Parliament had opened its doors for a final viewing by lawmakers and dignitaries before the body was moved to Nyayo Stadium for the State Funeral.

Odinga died on Wednesday, aged 80, while receiving treatment in Kerala, India. The government declared a seven-day national mourning period, with flags flying at half-mast across the country.

His coffin, draped in the Kenyan flag, will be transported on Saturday to Kisumu, his political stronghold on the shores of Lake Victoria. From there, the journey will end at his home in Bondo, Siaya County — where he will be laid to rest beside his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, one of Kenya’s founding leaders.

It was Raila’s wish, family members said, to be buried within 72 hours of his passing — “quickly, quietly, and at home.”

For millions of Kenyans, however, the farewell was anything but quiet. It was loud, proud, and unmistakably heartfelt — a fitting send-off for a man who, for decades, stood at the centre of Kenya’s political heartbeat.