“The People’s Farewell: Raila Odinga’s Last Journey and the Future of Kenya’s Democracy”
By The Urban Gazette Editorial
Nairobi/Kenya
Kenya has laid to rest one of its most iconic sons — Raila Amolo Odinga, known to millions simply as Baba.
From the airport tarmac in Nairobi to the streets of Kisumu and finally to his ancestral home in Bondo, Odinga’s final journey unfolded as a national meditation — a political farewell turned civic pilgrimage.
As the nation mourned, it also paused to ask: what now? What remains when a movement loses its face but not its faith?
🔹 The People’s Procession
Thousands lined the roads, some waving flags, others holding twigs — a traditional sign of mourning and respect. From the capital to the lakeside, chants of “Baba! Baba!” rose like hymns.
In this collective cry, Odinga’s decades of defiance — against autocracy, for democracy — came full circle.
His send-off blurred the line between state protocol and popular emotion. The military salute met the ululations of Luo elders. The national flag draped his coffin; the people’s voices carried it home.
“He made the ordinary Kenyan feel seen,” said one mourner in Kisumu. “Today, we came to make sure he knows we saw him too.”
🔹 Beyond the Ceremony: What This Moment Means
Raila’s departure is not only a personal loss — it is a political punctuation mark. His absence rearranges Kenya’s political map and forces a reckoning with generational change.
The question now is not who replaces him, but how Kenya continues the work he began: building a democracy based not on personality, but on principle.
🔹 Legacy and the Unfinished Struggle
For more than 40 years, Odinga’s name was shorthand for the opposition — for courage, reform, and restless hope.
His leadership journey ran parallel to Kenya’s own story: from one-party rule to a multi-party state; from political exile to power-sharing government.
Even in defeat, his influence endured. His final bow feels less like an ending, more like a transition — from man to memory, from politics to principle.
🔹 Final Rest in Bondo
The final burial in Opoda Farm, Siaya County, was part ceremony, part cultural homecoming.
Traditional rites and modern rituals intertwined: prayers, drumbeats, song, and silence.
As the coffin was lowered, thousands stood in reverence — a rare moment of unity across political divides.
“When a tree falls, the forest must grow around its roots,” a local elder whispered.
In Kenya’s forest of democracy, Odinga’s roots run deep.
What to Watch:
What Raila Odinga’s Passing Means for Kenya 2027 — and Beyond
1️⃣ The Power Vacuum
ODM now faces the first major leadership test in its modern history. Expect power realignments as figures like Opiyo Wandayi and Wycliffe Oparanya emerge.
2️⃣ Government Calculus
President William Ruto’s government will navigate the delicate aftermath — balancing homage with strategy, knowing Odinga’s shadow still looms large.
3️⃣ Generational Transition
The youth movements that grew up under Odinga’s rallies are finding their own voices. Watch for a younger, issue-based politics to take shape.
4️⃣ 2027 Elections
Without Raila, Kenya’s traditional two-horse race may splinter into new, unexpected coalitions — crossing ethnic and generational lines.
5️⃣ Legacy at the Ballot
The 2027 election will test whether Kenya can move from icon politics to institutional politics. Raila’s legacy will be the measure.
