Raila Odinga Jnr, the last-born and only surviving son of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga, has vowed to safeguard both the Odinga family and its larger political legacy during his father’s State Funeral at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Friday.
Addressing a packed stadium filled with dignitaries, leaders, and thousands of mourners, Raila Jnr paid heartfelt homage to his father.
“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 emotional address drew warm applause from the crowd, many visibly moved by his composure and sense of duty during a moment of national mourning.
Raila Jnr’s appearance carried deep symbolism. He was seen carrying his father’s iconic fly whisk — orengo in Luo — and wearing Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s signature hat, both emblematic of the Odinga political dynasty.
The fly whisk, a familiar feature in Raila Odinga’s public appearances, symbolized authority, connection to the people, and his role as a custodian of the nation’s democratic spirit.
Jaramogi’s hat, worn by Kenya’s first Vice President and Odinga family patriarch, represented the deep roots of the family’s political heritage stretching back to independence.
Observers noted that the gesture signalled Raila Jnr’s readiness to step into greater public roles following his father’s passing.
The state funeral comes amid seven days of national mourning declared by the Government of Kenya after Raila Odinga died on Wednesday in India at the age of 80, where he had been receiving medical treatment.
Mourners carried branches and palm fronds, traditional Luo symbols of mourning and grief, as they celebrated the life and legacy of the man affectionately known as “Baba.”
Odinga’s body had earlier lain in state at Parliament Buildings, allowing Kenyans from all walks of life to pay their last respects to a leader widely regarded as the father of modern Kenyan democracy.
Raila Odinga’s political journey spanned over four decades. He served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013, led major opposition movements, and contested five presidential elections, often claiming his victories were stolen through manipulation.
Despite never ascending to the presidency, Odinga’s legacy is firmly etched in Kenyan history for his unwavering advocacy for democracy, social justice, and national unity.
His moral courage, resilience, and lifelong dedication to the nation earned him respect across the political divide and admiration from multiple generations.
On Saturday, his body will be transported to Kisumu, on the shores of Lake Victoria — his political stronghold — before being moved to his ancestral home in Bondo, Siaya County, approximately 60 kilometres west of Kisumu, ahead of burial on Sunday.