The funeral of Raila Odinga the towering figure of Kenyan opposition politics, liberation rhetoric, and democratic struggle was supposed to be a moment of solemn closure. Instead, it turned into a grim reminder of how fragile Kenya’s political peace still is. As mourners gathered to view Odinga’s body in Kisumu, gunfire echoed through the air. By the end of the day, at least three people were dead and several others injured — killed not in battle or protest, but at the funeral of the man who spent half a century calling for peace, fairness, and accountability.
Raila Amolo Odinga, who passed away at 80, was not just another politician; he was a living chapter of Kenya’s tumultuous democratic journey. A symbol of opposition defiance and a recurring presidential candidate, Odinga was often described as both “the people’s president” and “Kenya’s eternal rebel.” His political career spanned over four decades of triumphs, betrayals, and near-misses. For many, his burial represented the end of an era a curtain call for the generation that fought against autocracy in postcolonial Africa and gave birth to Kenya’s multi-party politics.
Yet, the chaotic scenes at his funeral reflected that the struggles he once embodied are far from over. As mourners pushed to view his body, police reportedly opened fire after clashes broke out between rival groups and overzealous supporters. Videos shared on local media showed tear gas, panicked crowds, and police trucks speeding away from the melee. It was an image painfully familiar to Kenyans — a mixture of grief, anger, and state overreaction.
For Kenya, the timing could not be worse. The country is heading toward another election cycle under an increasingly polarized environment. President William Ruto’s government faces growing discontent over taxes, youth unemployment, and the high cost of living. Many of Odinga’s supporters particularly from his Luo ethnic base in the west feel betrayed by the country’s unending cycle of political promises and disappointments. In their eyes, the state’s heavy-handed response to a funeral gathering was not an isolated event but part of a long pattern of systemic bias and neglect.
The irony, of course, is heartbreaking. Odinga himself had championed national reconciliation after the disputed 2007 elections that saw more than a thousand people killed in ethnic clashes. His “handshake” with former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018 was meant to signal a new dawn of unity. But that moment of calm seems distant now. The unity Odinga fought for has given way to growing cynicism, especially among the youth who see politics as an elite game rigged from the start.
International reactions have been cautious but pointed. Human rights groups have condemned the use of live ammunition at a civilian event, while the African Union called for an independent inquiry into the violence. “Raila Odinga stood for democracy and dialogue his farewell should have reflected that spirit,” said one AU diplomat anonymously.
For the Odinga family, grief has been overshadowed by the political symbolism of his death. His son, Raila Jr., spoke briefly to mourners, urging calm and unity but his words struggled to compete with the anger in the streets. Across Kenya, radio talk shows and social media were flooded with emotional tributes, but also bitter debates about what Odinga’s death means for the country’s future. Some argued that Kenya must now find a way to move beyond personality-driven politics, while others warned that without reform, the cycle of protest and repression will continue.
In many ways, Odinga’s funeral became a microcosm of the contradictions he spent his life confronting democracy and disorder, unity and tribalism, hope and disillusionment. His story mirrored Kenya’s story: the promise of independence eroded by inequality, yet sustained by the stubborn belief in change.
As night fell over Kisumu, the sound of church hymns mixed with distant sirens. The old revolutionary had finally been laid to rest, but the peace he long dreamed of seemed no closer. Kenya mourned a man who fought for justice until his last breath and in doing so, revealed just how much justice the nation still has to fight for.
