How Kibra residents walked 16km to Karen to confirm Raila Odinga's death

At around 10am, the shops around Olympic Primary School, Kwa DC and other areas closed as youths on motorcycles started raising the alarm that their political leader had died while undergoing treatment in India.

The mourning began.

The area, which has long been perceived as Mr Odinga’s stronghold, was engulfed in wails and sorrow.

The developing news caught them off-guard in the morning when most of them were leaving their houses for work. And within no time, thousands of people poured out into the streets, paralysing the traffic flow on major roads, including Ngong Road.

They peacefully matched for about 16 kilometres from Kibra to Karen area, where the former Prime Minister used to reside.

“Let them tell us when Raila Odinga died. I have known Baba for many years and we are going to Karen to hear from Mama Ida Odinga; that is when we will be sure,” Millicent Achieng said.

Without damaging any property or stoning vehicles along Ngong Road, the mourners matched as they mourned Mr Odinga as a statesman.

“It is painful that Baba has rested. We are now orphans. This man was the defender of the weak in the society and the hustlers. May his soul rest in peace,” Mama Daddy said.

She said that she has always voted for the ODM leader, whom she remembers as a freedom fighter who cared about Kibra. “Now that he has gone, we don’t know how life will be for us. It hurts that he is no more.”

Dickson Okach said that they have been left in deep sorrow and confusion, and he awaits political realignment.

“President Ruto is now the eyes of Kenyans and we are all his children. Kenya is one and he should unite the country and take it forward,” he said.

To Kibra residents, Mr Odinga was not just any other leader. They saw him as their own, the voter who used to vote with them.

He served as the Member of Parliament for Lang’ata from 1993 to 2013 when Kibra was part of the larger Lang’ata Constituency before being split in 2013.

Despite becoming Prime Minister in 2008 as part of the Grand Coalition Government, Mr Odinga never forgot the people of Kibra, regularly visiting the area and playing an active political role. It well-known that whenever he intended to make an important political story, Kibra would be the place to do so.

During his five unsuccessful attempts to become President, Mr Odinga remained close to the people of Kibra and was always there for them whenever tragedies such as fires occurred in the area.

“Mzee has been our leader and now he is gone. We used to listen to his advice and directions. We are now in the broad-based government because of him. We do not know what next after his death,” said a mourner at Mr Odinga’s residence.

“We have been looking for him and Raila was not talking even on social media platforms. We are now orphans,” another mourner said.

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