Legion Maria Church mourns Raila, hails him as true statesman
Legion Maria Church has mourned the passing of the late ODM Party Leader Raila Amolo Odinga.
Through a press statement issued on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, the church described Raila as a “distinguished son of Kenya, a true African statesman, and a gallant servant of the people,” following his death earlier in the day while undergoing treatment in India.
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Quoting Psalm 116:15, the church said, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants,” adding that the nation and the continent had lost one of Africa’s greatest reformers.
Legion Maria mourns Raila
“The Lion of Africa has rested, and a giant of history has taken his final bow,” the statement signed by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Wycliffe Nyaperah, Secretary General of the Legion Maria Episcopal Conference, said.
The church conveyed its deepest condolences to Raila’s family, the people of Kenya, the government, and Parliament, affirming that it stands with the country during this difficult time.
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“We mourn with you. We stand with you. We pray for you,” it added.
The church described Raila as more than a political figure, calling him a visionary leader, a reformer, and the father of modern democracy in Kenya.
“He endured the furnace of affliction, bore the yoke of injustice, and yet rose each time with greater clarity of vision, unshakable courage, and unwavering faith in the destiny of Kenya and Africa,” the statement read.
According to the church, Raila’s leadership was grounded in compassion and resilience.
“In his pilgrimage of leadership, he stood among the broken, walked with the poor, spoke for the voiceless, and dreamed big for Kenya and for Africa. He was, truly, the People’s Leader.”
His legacy with the Church
The Legion Maria Church also celebrated Raila’s long-standing relationship with the church, recalling how he would often attend their gatherings in solidarity.
“We especially remember his connection to the Church, and in particular, his closeness to the Legion Maria Church, where he would often grace our gatherings, wearing our sacred attire as a sign of solidarity with God’s people,” the statement noted.
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The church lauded Raila for defending freedom of worship, which he ensured was protected in the 2010 Constitution of Kenya.
“At a time when our church was divided, Raila stood for its unity. He was a peacemaker. His hand was ever stretched out to reconcile a nation even in its deepest divisions,” it added.
Celebrating his life and faith
While mourning his death, the Legion Maria Church also urged Kenyans to celebrate Raila’s life as one of courage, faith, and purpose.
“As we mourn, we also give thanks to God for the gift of his life. His was a journey of purpose, pain, and promise, a journey that will inspire future generations to dream, to rise, and to lead with courage and love,” the church statement reads in parts.
“Dear Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, behind the politics stood a man, a father, a husband, a fighter, a dreamer, and a believer.
