Emotional send-off for Kenya's revered ex-PM Raila Odinga at state funeral

Thousands of Kenyans mourned the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at his state funeral in Nairobi yesterday, as the country bid farewell to a man who played a pivotal role in shaping its democracy. The emotional send-off came after five decades of active politics, during which Odinga rose from being a grassroots activist to become one of Kenya's most revered politicians.

The Nyayo National Stadium was packed with people clad in black and wearing T-shirts bearing Odinga's image. Many were seen carrying branches, a traditional symbol of grief, as they chanted slogans like "Raila usilale, bado mapambano" - which translates to "Raila, don't sleep, the struggle is not over".

President William Ruto, who had previously been Odinga's rival for the presidency, paid tribute to his former opponent, describing him as a leader whose impact transcended generations. He also led mourners in singing Odinga's favorite reggae song, Jamaican Farewell.

As Odinga's body was transported from parliament to the stadium, security officers were on high alert to prevent any further incidents. However, crowds surged forward to pay their respects, and two mourners died later due to cardiac arrests.

Odinga had repeatedly said he was cheated of victory in previous elections, but his legacy has been one of multi-party democracy, with leaders from across the country paying tribute to his commitment to justice and service.

In a somber address, Odinga's daughter Winnie eulogized him as a leader who never used his power to intimidate people. She recalled how he had overcome repeated setbacks and failures but always remained hopeful and committed to fighting for what he believed in.

The seven-day mourning period declared by the government will bring Kenyans together in a display of national unity, with public viewing of Odinga's body scheduled at Kisumu city on Saturday before being buried in Bondo, his ancestral home.

Just had to watch the state funeral for Raila Odinga and I'm genuinely emotional about it The level of respect shown towards him is insane - thousands of people packed into the stadium, all wearing black and holding branches... it's like they're carrying his legacy with them . And that song he loved so much, Jamaican Farewell, still gives me chills

I know some people might say politics can be divisive, but watching this send-off, I think we've finally seen some unity in Kenya . Even the President, who used to be Odinga's rival, showed up and paid tribute... it just goes to show that even after all these years, Raila still has a massive impact on people's lives .

What really stuck with me was Winnie's eulogy - she talked about how he never used his power to intimidate anyone . That takes courage and humility, especially when you're in such a powerful position. He might have lost some elections, but his legacy is so much bigger than that .

The whole thing just felt really beautiful and somber at the same time... like we're saying goodbye to an era .

just watched that somber address by Winnie and i'm gettin' goosebumps ! it's clear that her dad Raila was more than just a politician, he was a true servant of the people . and to see the outpouring of love and respect from all corners of the country is just amazing . five decades of dedicated service is no joke, and it's incredible how he never lost sight of his goals . as a nation, kenya's moving forward with a strong foundation laid by leaders like Raila

man, it's wild to think that raila odinga is finally resting in peace... his legacy lives on though, and its clear that he played a huge role in shaping kenya's democracy. i'm not gonna lie, the fact that people showed up so strongly at his funeral is a testament to how much they respect him. but at the same time, it was also super scary with all those cardiac arrests... security had to be on high alert for a reason! anyway, its good to see president ruto giving tribute to odinga despite their past rivalry - shows that kenya's politics can get pretty messy, but they're still capable of coming together like this. and omg, jamie farewell is such a classic song...

just heard about Raila Odinga's passing and I'm still trying to process it he was such an iconic figure in Kenyan politics for decades... it's crazy to think that the same man who was once seen as a grassroot activist is now being mourned by thousands of people across the country

I wonder what his legacy will be remembered for most - was it his role in shaping Kenya's democracy, or all the times he spoke out against injustice and corruption? either way, it's clear that his impact will be felt for a long time to come

it's also interesting to see how different people are paying tribute to him, from President Ruto to Odinga's daughter Winnie... it just goes to show how much he meant to so many Kenyans what do you guys think his greatest accomplishment was?

just watched that somber address from Raila's daughter Winnie it really hit me how much impact he had on Kenyan politics over the decades i mean 5 decades of activism and leadership is a huge deal he played a big role in shaping their democracy and still inspiring people today what really stood out to me was his commitment to justice and service - those are values we can all get behind

oh man i'm still reeling from the news of Raila Odinga's passing he was more than just a leader to me, he was a symbol of hope and resilience for the people of Kenya i remember watching him on TV as a young kid, seeing how passionate he was about creating change in his country it's amazing how far he came from being a grassroots activist to becoming one of the most revered politicians in kenya

i loved how they played that reggae song "Jamaican Farewell" at the funeral, it was like Odinga was singing directly to our souls and the fact that even President Ruto paid tribute to him speaks volumes about his impact on kenyan politics

what struck me most was how the crowds showed up in force despite security being tight, it's clear that Raila's message of justice and service resonated deeply with the people of kenya i'm so grateful for men like Odinga who dedicated their lives to fighting for a better future

it's gonna be tough to see him go, but at least we can take comfort in knowing that his legacy will live on through generations of kenyans coming after us

just saw the pics from Raila Odinga's state funeral and I gotta say its heartbreaking seeing all those people mourning the loss of a man who truly believed in giving back to his country . its amazing how he went from being a grassroots activist to leading Kenya's democracy, its like he was the embodiment of hope . I love how his daughter Winnie honored him by saying hes never used power to intimidate ppl that takes a lot of courage to admit especially when youre in such a high position . anyway, im just gonna take a moment to pay my respects too

just saw the pics from Raila Odinga's funeral and it was so emotional people were crying and carrying branches as a symbol of grief he was a true leader who fought for justice and democracy in Kenya can't believe he's gone but his legacy will live on and inspire future generations

omg i feel so bad for kenya right now raila odinga was like a hero to me and many ppl in kenya he paved the way for multi-party democracy which is really inspiring plus he always stayed true to himself even when faced with hardships, his legacy will live on forever it's amazing how one person can make such a huge impact i wonder if there are any lessons we can learn from his life and politics that we can apply in our own school lives

the crowd was so emotional at raila's funeral, it's like they're saying goodbye to a piece of kenya's history . i'm really saddened by the fact that two people died during the ceremony, but i guess that's what happens when you have such strong feelings about someone . any way, i think it's great that president ruto paid tribute to raila, even though they were rivals in the past . and wow, can you imagine singing a reggae song together at a state funeral? Jamaican Farewell is going to be stuck in my head for days .

omg i cant believe raila odinga is gone i was thinking about him last week and didnt realize its already been a month since he passed away so many people are saying what will kenya do now? my uncle went to his funeral in nairobi and said the crowd was huge! like nyayo stadium packed how did they all know to wear black and carry branches though? is that a thing in kenyan culture or something?

just witnessed this on live stream and its heartbreaking... Raila's passing marks the end of an era for Kenya . I'm still trying to process how 5 decades of activism & politics have led to this moment . The way people are mourning him, with all those black clothes & branches, is really something special . Its clear that Odinga was a leader who inspired hope in many, even when faced with adversity . I'm sad for Kenya and the loss of a true national hero . Can't help but think about how his legacy will continue to shape democracy in the country

Man, can you believe Raila's funeral was so packed? Like, he's been gone for like 24 hours and already everyone's carrying branches and chanting slogans... it's pretty wild . I'm no expert but I think it's safe to say Odinga's legacy is more than just some politician's accomplishments - he genuinely changed the game in Kenya's democracy landscape . And I gotta respect how even Ruto came around, singing that reggae song and all . What really got me was Winnie's speech tho... she laid it out there like her dad was a true leader who never compromised his values . Five decades of activism ain't no joke, fam!

sad news about Raila Odinga ... like he was a symbol of hope for kenyan democracy 4eva , his legacy is still gonna inspire ppl to keep pushing 4 justice & equality even after he's gone ... i'm not surprised by the outpouring of grief tho, he touched so many lives in those 50 yrs he spent servin' africa ... wish the kenyan people all the strength 2 get thru this hard time

can't believe raila is really gone five decades of activism and politics is just not enough for our country hopefully his legacy will live on through the people he inspired wish ruto could've shown more unity with him in life but you cant change the past now at least we got to see some beautiful moments like that reggae song rest in peace, mr odinga

man it was like watching history unfold yesterday at the Nyayo Stadium , thousands of kenyans came to pay their respects to raila odinga, a man who truly left his mark on kenya's politics... he may have had his share of ups and downs but in the end it's clear that his legacy is one of hope and service , his daughter winnie really did him justice with her somber yet powerful address , and to see president ruto showing respect for a man who was once his rival, it just goes to show how much odinga meant to kenyan politics , the crowd's energy was palpable, but sadly two people lost their lives trying to pay their respects... anyway, 7 days of mourning is a great way to bring the country together in these difficult times

just saw that news about Raila Odinga and it's so sad... he was really a hero to me his legacy will live on and I'm sure Kenya is going to miss him a lot

omg u guyz, raila odinga was such an icon 4 kenya!!! i feel so bad 4 him & his fam he may hav had his ups & downs in politics, but hes always stood up 4 whats rite & never gave up on the struggle. its sad that he passed away but i'm glad hes leavin a legacy dat will live on 4 generations 2 come cant w8 2 see how kenya remembers him thru out these 7 days of mourning

just saw the pics from Raila's state funeral and I'm getting all teary eyed ... five decades of politics is no joke, that guy lived a life full of struggle and perseverance. it's amazing to see how he brought Kenyans together despite being on opposing sides of politics - William Ruto's tribute to him was really touching . the outpouring of grief from thousands of people is just a testament to his impact on the country ... can't believe those two guys who died due to cardiac arrests, poor souls ... anyway, it's going to be tough for Kenyans to move on without him, but I guess that seven-day mourning period will help them process their emotions .