We are orphans': Kenyans bid farewell to ex-PM Odinga in his political heartland

Kenyans Mourn Former PM Odinga as Thousands File Past His Coffin in Kisumu

The outpouring of grief has been palpable as tens of thousands of Kenyans bid farewell to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 80. The sea of faces at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in his home city of Kisumu was a testament to the man's enduring legacy and the impact he had on the country.

The crowd, which included many wearing orange – the party color of Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement – was visibly moved as they filed past the open coffin. The sight brought tears to the eyes of many, with some unable to hold back their emotions. The phrase "we are orphans" echoed through the stadium, a poignant expression of the sense of loss that had settled over the nation.

Odinga's death has sent shockwaves across the country, with tributes pouring in from across Africa and beyond. Former US President Barack Obama, who hailed Odinga as a "true champion of democracy," was among those to pay tribute to his memory. The two men shared a deep connection, having both been key figures in Kenya's struggle for democracy.

As Kenyans bid farewell to their beloved leader, many reflected on the significant impact he had on the country. Dixon Ochieng, one mourner who came from afar to pay respects, described Odinga as "an icon of Africa." He remembered how Odinga's life was dedicated to the pursuit of freedom and self-governance in Kenya.

Despite his passing, Odinga's legacy continues to shape Kenya's politics. His court challenges have improved the country's election process, with many citing his efforts as a major factor in strengthening democracy. Jacob Omondi echoed this sentiment, stating that one of the most important lessons he learned from Odinga was resilience. Omondi recalled how Odinga remained steadfast despite facing numerous setbacks and allegations of electoral manipulation.

Odinga's funeral service will take place on Sunday at a university in Bondo, followed by a private burial at his late father's homestead. His family has appealed for calm as mourners gathered at the stadium earlier, with some incidents of chaos reported. The mood remained somber, however, as those who came to pay their respects continued to express their deep sadness over Odinga's passing.

As Kenyans bid farewell to a man who played such a significant role in shaping the country's history, many couldn't help but reflect on the lessons he taught them about perseverance and democracy. His memory will undoubtedly continue to inspire generations of Kenyans for years to come.

man odinga was literally a giant in kenyan politics his legacy is still gonna shape the country's future and it's beautiful to see so many ppl from all over africa showing love to him the sea of orange was so emotional i feel bad for those who couldn't make it to pay their respects but kudos to him for leaving behind a lasting impact on kenya

omg u no how much i loved raila odinga!!! his passing is so sad, like what if he's back tho? all these ppl filing past his coffin at jomo kenyatta stadium was soo emotional i can barely even imagine how tiring it must've been for them . and did u see the sea of orange? that's like, my fave party color btw! barack obama even paid tribute to him?! what more proof do we need that raila odinga was a true champion of democracy? his legacy will live on in kenya for sure. i just hope his family is doing alright during this hard time

Wow Interesting how his legacy is still impacting Kenya's politics even after his passing. It's crazy to think about all the changes he helped bring about through his court challenges... like, who would've thought that something as mundane as election processes could be a major factor in strengthening democracy?

OMG u guys r really feeling this Odinga was like a hero 2 Kenya n now hes gone his legacy is still gonna live thru the ppl he touched life won't b the same w/o him tho u gotta give it up 4 Barack Obama 2 pay tribute 2 him Ochieng said Odinga was an icon of Africa 1st class n I think its so cool dat his efforts improved Kenya's election process lets keep his memory alive

Omg I'm literally dying over here!! Raila Odinga was like my ultimate hero not just in Kenya but globally too ! His dedication to democracy and freedom is truly inspiring and I love how he never gave up no matter what challenges he faced those tributes from Obama are giving me LIFE I'm so glad Kenyans got to say goodbye to their beloved leader with such an outpouring of love the sea of orange is everything let's keep his legacy alive and celebrate the impact he had on Kenya's politics !

I'm not sure if Odinga was really that influential... I mean, I've seen more impact from other leaders in Kenya's history . But at the same time, his legacy is still pretty significant, and it's great to see so many people coming together to pay their respects . The fact that he had such a strong connection with Obama is pretty cool, but maybe he wasn't as close as some of us think? I'm not convinced by all the talk about his court challenges improving Kenya's election process... isn't that just a band-aid solution to a bigger problem?

I'm telling you, something fishy went down with Odinga's passing... all those thousands showing up at the funeral, it's just too many people. And what's with Obama showing up out of nowhere? Was he invited or did someone pull some strings? I mean, I know he's a friend of Odinga's and all, but still... it's suspicious. And have you seen the sea of orange? That party color is more than just a coincidence, I'm sure of it. Plus, Ochieng mentioned how Odinga was an "icon of Africa" but what about the people who aren't exactly fond of him? Did they get invited to the funeral too or were they left out on purpose?

The outpouring of grief is really something else . 80 years young and leaving such a legacy behind... it's truly humbling to see how much people care about Odinga . His efforts in Kenya's struggle for democracy are still being felt, and it's amazing to hear that his court challenges have improved the country's election process . But I wonder, do you think Odinga's passing will be a catalyst for change in Kenyan politics? Will his legacy continue to inspire new generations of leaders to work towards a more democratic future?

Awwww poor Kenyans they r losin a big leader n life! Raila Odinga was such an inspirin man 4 his fight 4 democracy n freedom he def didnt go unnoticed, Barack Obama paid tribute to him n that's somethin special . My heart goes out 2 the familee n friends of the late PM . It's okay 2 b sad n express ur emotions, as Dixon Ochieng said, "we r orphans" . Let's keep his memory alive n celebrate his contributions 2 Kenya's politics n democracy

I'm feeling so sad today . The sea of faces at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium was like a wave of emotions - it's hard not to be moved by the outpouring of grief.

Imagine a diagram of a circle with a small arrow pointing upwards, but instead of going up, the arrow is broken and points downwards... that's how I'm feeling today .

Raila Odinga was more than just a leader, he was an icon . His legacy will continue to inspire Kenyans for years to come. Here's a simple diagram of a tree with roots going deep into the ground and branches stretching up towards the sky... that's what Raila left behind - a strong foundation and a lasting impact on his country .

I think it's amazing how people from all over Africa and beyond are paying tribute to his memory. It just goes to show how much he meant to so many people around the world .

Here's a simple ASCII art of a hand holding a heart... that's what many Kenyans felt when they filed past Raila's coffin - love, respect, and gratitude .

Rest in peace, Raila . Your memory will live on in the hearts of your people.

man this is so sad raila odinga was an iconic figure, his legacy is real... i mean, he went from being a rebel to becoming one of the most influential politicians in kenya's history. but at the same time, can't help but think about how his life was marred by all that struggle and controversy what would have happened if he never got involved with politics? who knows, maybe kenya wouldn't be where it is today... anyway, my condolences to the people of kenya, they're going to miss him