President William Ruto on Friday paid an emotional tribute to former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga during the state funeral held at Nyayo Stadium, describing him as a visionary leader, a reformer, and a patriot whose courage and ideals transformed Kenya’s political landscape.
Addressing thousands of mourners, including visiting heads of state, diplomats, and Kenyans from all walks of life, President Ruto said Raila’s legacy would endure across generations.
“Every once in a generation, there comes a leader whose impact transcends their moment, whose courage inspires change, and whose vision shapes destinies. My brother, Raila Amolo Odinga, was one such leader,” Ruto said.
The President reflected on his long political journey with Raila — from allies in the 2007 ODM Pentagon team to rivals in subsequent elections — noting that despite political differences, they shared a common dream for a united and prosperous Kenya.
“I have come a long way with Baba. When I stood by him, with the other members of Pentagon, at a defining moment in his and our nation’s history, I neither knew that one day we would find ourselves on opposite sides nor could I have imagined that, years later, he would stand beside me, this time to steady the nation and help anchor my leadership, culminating in the birth of a broad-based government,” he said.
Ruto hailed Raila’s spirit of resilience and reconciliation, saying his readiness to rise above self-interest made him one of the most respected figures in Kenya’s history. “Whenever the nation needed him to rise above self, he always did unreservedly. Whenever Kenya needed a reason, he became the voice of reason courageously. And whenever the country needed a hand of reconciliation, he offered it without hesitation,” he said.
Describing Raila as “a reformer, a moral compass, and a reconciler,” Ruto said his former political rival’s dedication to justice, democracy, and unity would remain a guiding light for future generations. “He endured years of imprisonment, exile, and political struggle not for the privilege of power, but for the principle of service,” the President said.
In a moving moment, Ruto recalled Raila’s love for Harry Belafonte’s Jamaica Farewell, drawing a parallel between the song’s lyrics and the fallen leader’s final journey. “Our elder statesman, Hon Odinga, is sailing on a ship, not to Jamaica, but to home beyond,” he said.
Ruto ended his tribute with a solemn prayer: “It is our solemn prayer to the Almighty God that the soil of the land which Hon Odinga so tirelessly served shall embrace him with grace; that the nation he sacrificed for shall eternally cherish his memory; and that the people for whom he fought shall carry his dream forward.”
He concluded by describing Raila as “a towering patriot, a relentless reformer, a visionary statesman, and a selfless servant of the people,” adding that Kenya had lost a leader whose legacy would be difficult to match.
“From where shall another like him rise?” he asked, as the stadium fell silent in reflection.
Read: Raila’s Last Journey: State Funeral and Burial Plans Unveiled
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