By James Okoth
Raila Amolo Odinga — the enigma, the reformist, the indefatigable father of Kenya’s democracy — is set to take his final bow. As the nation braces for his burial tomorrow, anticipation and emotion sweep across the country. The send-off planned in his honour has already assumed a scale and solemnity rarely witnessed in Kenya’s history — a blend of national pride, global reverence, and political symbolism befitting a man who defined the nation’s democratic journey for more than half a century. Yet, one question lingers — would the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the party he founded and nurtured, have managed a farewell of this magnitude if the State had not stepped in?
The turning point came when President William Ruto, in a sombre address from State House, Nairobi, shortly after Odinga’s death, announced that the government would accord him a full State funeral. His words resonated across the political divide.
“Raila Odinga was not just an opposition leader. He was a patriot whose sacrifices and convictions shaped our democracy. As a country, we owe him the honour befitting a statesman who gave his all for Kenya,” he declared, crowning the country’s mood of profound loss and sombreness.
That declaration marked a moment of national maturity. It was both a political and moral decision — one that acknowledged that Raila’s contribution to Kenya transcended party boundaries. Strategically, it reflected President Ruto’s intent to project unity and statesmanship at a time of national grief. Symbolically, it placed Raila Odinga among the pantheon of Kenya’s founding and transformative leaders. Historically, it was a remarkable full circle — the same State that once detained and opposed him now preparing to honour him with a 21-gun salute.
The government has since spared no effort in staging a world-class State farewell. The military rehearsals, the precision of protocol, the elaborate planning for tomorrow’s ceremonies, and the turnout at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, and at Mamboleo Stadium in Kisumu City have all reflected the weight of Odinga’s national stature. Heads of State, diplomats, clergy, and citizens have joined hands in tribute to the man whose name became synonymous with resilience, reform, and democracy.
On the other hand, ODM — though emotionally and ideologically closest to Odinga — would have faced enormous challenges in mounting such a large-scale operation. The party’s heartbeat lies with the people — the millions of Kenyans who saw Raila as their liberator. An ODM-led burial would undoubtedly have been emotionally powerful, driven by grassroots loyalty and cultural depth. It would have been rich in song, dance, dirge, and symbolism — a reflection of the people’s love and Baba’s revolutionary soul. Yet, the logistical precision, security apparatus, and diplomatic coordination required for an event of this scale are powers only the State commands.
In essence, Raila’s final rites have become a powerful meeting point between the State and the people — two forces that often clashed during his lifetime, now united in honouring him. The government brings the order, structure, and global recognition; ODM and his followers bring the passion, culture, and authenticity. Together, they are shaping a farewell that transcends politics — a national moment of reconciliation and respect.
When the guns fire tomorrow in salute at his Opoda farm in Bondo Sub-County, the echo will carry more than honour — it will carry history. It will mark Kenya’s collective redemption: the State saluting a man who once stood fearlessly against it, and a people witnessing their hero embraced by the nation he fought to reform.
Raila Odinga’s burial, therefore, is not merely a farewell. It is the closing of a long national chapter — the reconciliation of power and people, of struggle and statehood. And in that unity, perhaps, lies the truest reflection of the Kenya he dreamed of — a nation finally at peace with its greatest son.
