NAIROBI, Kenya — During the State Funeral of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, Raila Odinga Jnr, the last-born and sole surviving son, made a solemn commitment to safeguard the Odinga family and its extensive political heritage.
Addressing a packed stadium filled with national dignitaries, political leaders, and thousands of mourners, Raila Jnr delivered a heartfelt and emotional address to his father.
Acknowledging his new role within the family following the passing of his older brother, Fidel, Raila Jnr vowed to step up as the family patriarch:
“I am very alive to the fact that with my brother Fidel gone, I remain the gentleman of the family. Dad, I want to assure you that I will take care of our family — Mum, Rosie, Winnie — and the larger political family. Thank you for the gift of life, for giving me your name, and for never heaping the weight of it on me,” he said.
The moving pledge garnered warm applause, with many observers visibly impressed by his composure and sense of duty during this period of national mourning.
Symbolism of succession
Raila Jnr’s appearance was powerfully symbolic, signaling a potential shift in public roles. He was notably seen carrying his father’s iconic fly whisk—orengo in Luo—and wearing Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s signature hat.
The fly whisk, a staple of Raila Odinga’s public life, symbolizes authority and his role as a custodian of the nation’s democratic spirit.
Jaramogi’s hat, worn by Kenya’s first Vice President and the Odinga family patriarch, underscored the deep, generational roots of the family’s political involvement, tracing back to the country’s independence.
This dual gesture was widely interpreted as an indication of Raila Jnr’s readiness to embrace greater public responsibilities.
The enduring legacy of “Baba”
The State Funeral takes place amid seven days of national mourning, declared by the Government of Kenya following Raila Odinga’s passing in India on Wednesday at the age of 80.
Earlier in the week, his body lay in state at Parliament Buildings, allowing the public to pay respects to a leader widely regarded as the father of modern Kenyan democracy.
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Odinga’s political career spanned over four decades, during which he served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013 and tirelessly led major opposition movements.
Despite contesting five presidential elections—and repeatedly alleging manipulation of the results—Odinga’s legacy is defined by his unwavering advocacy for democracy, social justice, and national unity. His moral courage and resilience earned him deep respect across the political spectrum.
Mourners at the stadium offered solemn tribute, carrying branches and palm fronds, which are traditional Luo symbols of grief.
The State Funeral service marks the beginning of the final journey: Odinga’s body will be transported on Saturday to Kisumu, his political stronghold on the shores of Lake Victoria, before proceeding to his ancestral home in Bondo, Siaya County, for burial on Sunday.