NAIROBI, Kenya — Following the death of veteran opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga at the age of 80, Kenyan President William Ruto has declared a seven-day period of national mourning.
In a statement released on Wednesday, President Ruto expressed profound sorrow at the passing of a man he lauded as “a giant of our history” and “a colossus of Kenya’s modern politics.” Mr. Odinga reportedly died while undergoing medical treatment at an Ayurvedic hospital in Kochi, Kerala, India.
President Ruto stated that the week-long mourning period would allow the entire nation to reflect on the immense life and legacy of Odinga, whose “extraordinary contribution” was instrumental in shaping Kenya’s democratic evolution.
The official announcement read: “In honour of the Right Honourable Raila Amolo Odinga’s extraordinary contribution to our nation, I have declared a 7-day period of national mourning, during which the National Flag shall fly at half-mast across the Republic of Kenya and in all our missions abroad,” Ruto’s statement read.
The President honored Mr. Odinga as “a patriot of uncommon courage, a statesman of boundless selflessness, and a warrior in our struggle for freedom and prosperity.”
Confirming the dignity with which the late leader will be laid to rest, the President announced that Raila Odinga will be accorded a state funeral with full honors.
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Furthermore, President Ruto confirmed that a high-level committee has been established to coordinate the funeral arrangements, co-chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga. The government also noted that the Government of India has extended assistance for the repatriation of Mr. Odinga’s remains.
The President conveyed his condolences, saying: “On behalf of a grateful nation, I extend my deepest condolences to Mama Ida Odinga; his children, Rosemary, Raila Junior, and Winnie; and the entire Odinga family,” the statement continued.
In closing, President Ruto urged all Kenyans to reflect on the key values Mr. Odinga championed—democracy, unity, and justice—and called for national cohesion during this period of loss:
“Let us come together, as he always urged us to do, not as rivals, but as brothers and sisters bound by a shared destiny. May his soul rest in eternal peace. May God comfort his family. May God bless Kenya.”
