Raila: Kenya's unifying factor, even in death

President William Ruto paid glowing tribute to the man who was his bitter rival in the 2022 elections, but whom he had turned to for support in the wake of Gen Zs protests were threatening his grip on power.

Dr Ruto, his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition politicians Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa and Justin Muturi, were all at Nyayo on Friday to bid farewell to Baba.

Despite holding different political opinions from Raila, who had announced he would support the president until 2027, the opposition leaders were well received by the crowd when they arrived at the service.

Read: Ida Odinga: My 52 years with Raila

 Mr Muturi had not shared a podium with the president since he was fired from the Cabinet. However, Raila brought Mr Muturi together with the man they are strategising to unseat in 2027.

Since his death was announced on Wednesday, the country has been in a sombre mood, with everyone reminiscing about their memories of Raila.

The government's decision to give Raila a state funeral, a privilege usually reserved for deceased heads of state, is massive. It serves to show the former prime minister’s contributions to the country even though he never had the opportunity to serve as president.

Kenyans, in their hundreds of thousands, turned up to mourn Raila, cementing the fact that he was indeed a man of the people, or as others referred to him, the people’s president.

When his body arrived from India aboard a KQ plane on Thursday, Raila was accorded military honours — again a ceremony reserved for former presidents.

The presence of President Ruto and Mr Kenyatta at the airport to receive the body was also significant, as it marked a unifying moment for the country. Mr Kenyatta has lately been at odds with his successor.

At Nyayo, speakers seized the moment to remind the crowd that Raila loved peace.

From Ida Odinga to their children, the one constant message in their speeches was peace. They said their father preached peace even at home.

Unifying figure

“He always told me that we should encourage people to maintain peace, so I would like to appeal to you all: let us mourn Raila in peace. I know we are all mourning and it is difficult, but let us keep the peace,” Ida said.

President Ruto eulogised Raila as a unifying figure who joined him politically to stabilise the country, in a collaboration that led to the formation of a broad-based government.

“I am truly and eternally grateful that our paths crossed and that we shared this journey together. We were both collaborators and friends, as well as rivals, but we were always patriotic Kenyans, united by a dream bigger than any partisan divide: the dream of our united motherland — Kenya,” said President Ruto.

He said Raila had become the unifying face of the country at the time unity was most needed, always placing the interests of the country above his own.

“Whenever Kenya needed a voice of reason, he courageously became just that. And whenever the country needed reconciliation, he offered it without hesitation,” said President Ruto.

Mr Kenyatta, who ran against Raila in the 2013 and 2017 elections before they joined forces in the famous ‘handshake’ in 2018, remembered him as a statesman.

“He was not a tribalist; he loved and believed in everyone and had many friends. Whenever you visited him at home, you would find people from all over the country,” said Mr Kenyatta.

He said no chapter in Kenya’s history will be written without a mention of Raila, whether in terms of fighting for democracy and human rights, or devolution.

“He loved peace, unity, and bringing people together to build the nation. He was a defender of people's rights and was always at the forefront of the fight for people's rights,” said Mr Kenyatta.

To honour his legacy, Mr Kenyatta, who received a rousing welcome from the huge crowd, said those left behind by Raila should safeguard the gains achieved under his leadership.

In Parliament, lawmakers from both the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition and the opposition spoke with one voice. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula said Raila always pursued peace and unity in any contest or negotiation he engaged in.

“Even in moments of political contest, the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga often chose peace over power. This was demonstrated in the 2007, 2013, 2017 and 2022 elections, when he prioritised the stability of the nation over personal ambition, proving that leadership is not just about winning, but also about holding a nation together,” said Mr Wetang’ula.

For Jack Wamboka, the MP for Bumula, Raila’s unifying moment came when he was campaigning for his parliamentary seat in 2022 on a DAP-Kenya ticket. Raila persuaded the ODM candidate to step down for him.

Read: ‘Raila died in my arms’: Winnie says as Odinga children mourn father

“Raila Odinga supported my candidacy in 2022 with Sh3.5 million even though the ODM had a candidate for the parliamentary seat. I remember him instructing Junet Mohamed to ensure their candidate stepped down,” said Mr Wamboka.

Tharaka MP George Murugara said Raila will be remembered as the doyen of devolution and democracy in Kenya.

“He declared Kibaki Tosha in 2002 even though he had the opportunity to go for the top seat. That is the selflessness we are talking about. He travelled the country, East Africa and the world, advocating good governance, democracy, human rights and justice,” said Mr Murugara.

However, Raila’s quest for a better society was not confined to Kenya; it was extended to the continent. He participated in diplomatic efforts in many countries, mediating in conflicts including in South Sudan and the Ivory Coast. He engaged in other development initiatives under the African Union during his tenure as the African Union's High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa.

The number of foreign dignitaries who turned to pay their respects to Raila was also a testament to his global image. They included Taye Atske Selassie, President of Ethiopia; Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia and Philip Mpango, the Vice President of Tanzania.

Others were Jakaya Kikwete, former President of Tanzania, and Vincent Biruta, Rwanda's Interior Minister, who represented President Paul Kagame.

Raila will be buried tomorrow in Bondo, Siaya County. The function will be presided over by the Anglican Church of Kenya.

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