Ex-Kenyan Leader Raila Odinga Laid to Rest in Bondo
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Thousands gather to bid farewell to a revered opposition figure and “champion of democracy”
Thousands of mourners gathered on Sunday in Bondo to bid farewell to Raila Odinga, the former Prime Minister and long-time opposition leader of Kenya. His burial marked the end of several days of memorial events that gripped the nation and drew mourners from across the political divide.
Odinga’s casket, draped in the Kenyan flag, was carried to the front by military personnel as the crowd chanted his name. “Now finally Baba is home,” his son, Raila Odinga Jr., said during the ceremony.
Days of Mourning and National Reflection
Odinga died on Wednesday at the age of 80 while receiving treatment in India. His passing triggered nationwide mourning, including a state funeral in Nairobi on Friday and a massive public viewing in Kisumu on Saturday.
The memorials were marked by both emotional tributes and tragic chaos. At least five mourners died and dozens were injured during earlier events, including three people who were killed when police opened fire to disperse crowds at the Kisumu viewing.
A Legacy of Democratic Struggle
Odinga’s political career spanned decades. He became prime minister after the bloody and disputed 2007 elections, later serving as opposition leader through five presidential campaigns. Though he never won the presidency, he earned a reputation as a symbol of resilience and democracy in Kenya.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama whose family traces roots to the same region paid tribute to Odinga, calling him “a true champion of democracy.”
Tributes from Across the Nation
The memorial service in Bondo drew politicians, diplomats, and thousands of ordinary Kenyans. President William Ruto hailed Odinga as “a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of justice, democracy, and the enduring unity of our beloved Kenya.”
“His courage, his vision, and his unyielding faith in our collective destiny will forever illuminate the path of our nation,” Ruto said in a Facebook post.
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Resting at His Father’s Homestead
Odinga’s final resting place is at his late father’s homestead in Bondo, where a family mausoleum has been prepared. For many Kenyans, this moment symbolized not just the burial of a leader, but the closing of a historic chapter in the country’s democratic journey.
“Even in the grave, he still remains our hero,” one mourner told AFP.
National Mourning Beyond Borders
Odinga’s death has reverberated beyond Kenya’s borders, with messages of condolence pouring in from across Africa and the diaspora. He was widely seen as a central figure in advancing multi-party democracy and electoral reforms in Kenya.
His political legacy, marked by decades of both victory and defeat, remains deeply woven into the nation’s democratic fabric.
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