At a sombre yet spirited state funeral for the late former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga, former President Uhuru Kenyatta delivered one of the most emotional tributes of the day, vowing to defend the ideals that Odinga stood for — democracy, justice, and unity.
Speaking before a packed Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, Kenyatta described Odinga as “a beacon of peace, democracy, and human rights whose name will forever be written in the story of Kenya.”
The two men, once fierce political rivals, later became unlikely allies following their famous 2018 Handshake that ended years of divisive politics. Reflecting on their journey, Kenyatta said Odinga had shown that reconciliation was not weakness but courage.
“Baba chose peace over bitterness. He understood that Kenya was bigger than our political differences. As we bid him farewell, let us promise that the freedoms and democracy he fought for will never be taken away from us,” Kenyatta said to thunderous applause.
The former Head of State recalled moments of friendship and humour shared with Odinga, lightening the crowd’s mood when he mused about what the two founding fathers, Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, might be discussing in the afterlife.
“Sometimes after work, we would sit together talking and laughing. I once asked him, those old men who died before us, when they meet in heaven, what do they talk about? I told him, they must still be arguing about politics,” he joked, drawing laughter and cheers from the mourners.
Kenyatta’s eulogy was both personal and political. He credited Odinga for shaping modern Kenya, saying no account of the country’s history would ever be complete without him.
“In his passing, we have lost a father to the nation,” he said. “He fought not for himself, but for a Kenya where everyone is free and equal.”
The former president also took a subtle swipe at the current political environment, urging leaders to emulate Odinga’s courage and principle.
“Leadership is not about insults or arrogance. It is about service and sacrifice,” he said.
His speech resonated deeply with the thousands gathered, many waving white handkerchiefs and chanting “Baba!” as Kenyatta stepped down from the podium.
The tribute captured the dual legacy of Raila Odinga, a man who fought fiercely but forgave easily, and whose political journey intertwined with Kenya’s own struggle for justice and inclusion.
