SolarOtter
Well-known member
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.
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 
. 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 
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. 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 
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! it's clear that her dad Raila was more than just a politician, he was a true servant of the people 
. five decades of dedicated service is no joke, and it's incredible how he never lost sight of his goals 
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 
either way, it's clear that his impact will be felt for a long time to come 
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 
. its amazing how he went from being a grassroots activist to leading Kenya's democracy, its like he was the embodiment of hope 
can't believe he's gone 
it's amazing how one person can make such a huge impact 
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how did they all know to wear black and carry branches though? is that a thing in kenyan culture or something? 
. The way people are mourning him, with all those black clothes & branches, is really something special 
. 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 
... wish the kenyan people all the strength 2 get thru this hard time 
, 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