The remains of Raila Odinga returned to Kenyan soil Thursday to scenes of raw emotion and unprecedented public mourning, as a nation that spent decades divided over the opposition leader united in grief for a man many now call the father of modern Kenyan democracy.
Odinga’s coffin, draped in the red, green, and black of the Kenyan flag, arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport aboard a special government aircraft from India, where the 80-year-old former Prime Minister died Wednesday following cardiac arrest at an Ayurvedic hospital in Kerala.
High-ranking military officers in full ceremonial dress received the casket on the tarmac as a military band played somber dirges and an honor guard stood at attention. The formal precision of the military ceremony stood in stark contrast to the emotional chaos just beyond the airport perimeter, where thousands had gathered since dawn.
A Nation in Tears
As the hearse carrying Odinga’s body began its slow journey through Nairobi to the Lee Funeral Home, an extraordinary outpouring of public grief transformed the capital’s streets into an impromptu memorial route.
Tens of thousands of Kenyans lined the roads, many carrying freshly cut tree branches held aloft in a traditional gesture of mourning and respect. Men and women wept openly, some collapsing to their knees as the cortege passed. Orange—the color of Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement—dominated the crowd, with mourners wearing orange scarves, shirts, and headbands.
“Baba! Baba!” they chanted through tears, invoking the Swahili word for father that became Odinga’s political moniker. Some threw flower petals into the path of the hearse. Others sang liberation songs from Kenya’s struggle for multi-party democracy in the 1990s, when Odinga risked everything to challenge authoritarian rule.
The procession, originally scheduled to take 45 minutes, stretched to nearly three hours as massive crowds made passage difficult. At several points, security personnel struggled to keep mourners from rushing the motorcade.
Seven Days of Remembrance
President William Ruto formally declared seven days of national mourning beginning Thursday, ordering flags to fly at half-mast across the nation and suspending non-essential government activities. The period will culminate in a state funeral with full military honors, though the exact date has not yet been announced.
“Kenya pauses to honor a son who gave everything,” Ruto said in a brief statement as Odinga’s body arrived. “Whatever our political differences, today we are one nation in grief.”
The scenes of mass mourning have surprised even veteran political analysts, many of whom had documented the bitter divisions Odinga’s five presidential campaigns generated over decades. His supporters saw him as a champion repeatedly denied victory through rigging; his opponents accused him of stoking ethnic tensions and refusing to accept democratic outcomes.
But in death, those divisions appeared to dissolve. In neighborhoods that voted heavily against Odinga in past elections, Kenyan flags hung from windows alongside orange ribbons. Radio call-in shows that once featured heated debates about his political legacy now broadcast hour after hour of tributes.
Global Tributes Continue
The emotional homecoming came as international condolences continued to pour in. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed a decades-long friendship with Odinga, describing him as having “a special affection for India, our culture, values and ancient wisdom” and noting that Odinga “particularly admired Ayurveda and traditional medicine systems of India, having witnessed their positive impact on his daughter’s health.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called Odinga “a patriotic and selfless leader” who “remained unwaveringly true to his principles and vision in the face of deep personal sacrifice and obstacles.”
The African Union announced that flags at its Addis Ababa headquarters would fly at half-mast—a rare honor for someone who never served as head of state. Odinga had been the AU’s candidate for Commission chairman in elections scheduled for early 2025.
A Political Dynasty Mourns
Odinga’s widow, Ida Odinga, and their children accompanied the body from India but remained largely out of public view Thursday, with family spokesman Dennis Onyango saying they were “overwhelmed by grief but deeply moved by the nation’s love.”
The family is expected to make a public statement Friday as memorial activities intensify across the country. The Orange Democratic Movement has organized viewing centers in all 47 counties, with the main public viewing scheduled for Uhuru Park in central Nairobi—the same venue where Odinga addressed millions during his various presidential campaigns.
Traditional Mourning
The tree branches carried by mourners reflect ancient Luo customs—Odinga’s ethnic community—where fresh green branches symbolize both mourning and the cycle of life. But Thursday’s scenes transcended ethnic boundaries, with Kenyans from all communities participating in the traditional gesture.
In Kisumu, Odinga’s political stronghold in Nyanza Province, business came to a complete standstill. Shops closed, matatus (minibuses) stopped running, and tens of thousands gathered at the lakeside city’s main venues to watch the Nairobi arrival on large screens.
“He never abandoned us,” said Peter Omondi, 67, who had supported Odinga since his first presidential bid in 1997. “Through prison, exile, five defeats—he never gave up. Now Kenya knows what we lost.”
As night fell over Nairobi Thursday, the hearse had finally reached Lee Funeral Home, where Odinga’s body will remain until public viewing begins. But the crowds showed no sign of dispersing, with thousands camping outside the facility, singing songs and sharing memories under a blanket of stars.
The seven-day mourning period has only just begun, but already it is clear that Raila Odinga’s final journey home has become one of the most significant public events in Kenya’s post-independence history—a moment when a divided nation found unity in honoring a man who spent his life fighting for what he believed Kenya could become.
Funeral arrangements and details of public viewing will be announced Friday.
