One of Kenya’s most revered politicians, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, yesterday received an emotional send-off at his state funeral in the capital, Nairobi, the BBC reported.
Tens of thousands of people – many carrying branches as a traditional symbol of grief and wearing T-shirts printed with his image – wept and sang at the service at Nyayo National Stadium, where they paid their final respects.
“Every once in a generation, there comes a leader whose impact transcends their moment,” President William Ruto told the crowds about his former rival’s legacy to multi-party democracy.
Two mourners died later as crowds surged forward to see Odinga’s coffin at the lying in state, according to Médecins Sans Frontières.
The aid agency said the field hospital at the stadium also attended to 163 patients and referred 34 others for further care.
Security officers managed to restore order afterwards and the public viewing of his body later carried on smoothly.
This followed the deaths of at least three people on Thursday after police fired gunshots and tear gas in an attempt to contain the huge crowds who had turned out to escort Odinga’s body from the country’s main airport after its arrival from India.
Odinga, who died at a hospital near the Indian city of Kochi aged 80 on Wednesday, never made it to Kenya’s presidency – failing five times – but his daughter Winnie told mourners that he had risen again each time “with grace, forgiveness and hope”.
“I learned from him that love for country is not just in words; it is in sacrifice. That justice must be pursued even when the path is lonely. True leadership is service, not power,” she said.
The presidents of Somaliaand Ethiopia were among regional leaders who attended the service.
As Odinga’s body entered the stadium in a ceremonial military procession, mourners broke into chants, whistles and songs.
They chanted “Raila usilale, bado mapambano”, a popular Swahili political slogan, which translates as “Raila, don’t sleep, the struggle is not over”.
