My heart is heavy, and my spirit is burdened with grief: Uhuru mourns Raila
By Luke Oluoch, October 15, 2025Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has shared a message of condolence following the demise of Raila Odinga, the country’s former Prime Minister.
In an emotional tribute on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Uhuru revealed that news of Raila’s passing had left his heart heavy and burdened with grief.
The fourth president stated that Raila’s death was a personal loss to him.
Elsewhere, Bondo residents are mourning the death of the ODM leader at his Opoda home in Siaya County.
Personal loss
“My heart is heavy, and my spirit is burdened with a grief that is both profound and deeply personal. The news of Raila’s passing has left a silence that echoes across our nation, a silence where once there was a voice of thunder and conviction. I have lost a friend and a brother. I will miss our conversations, sometimes challenging, always insightful, and the fire of belief that never left his eyes,” Uhuru said.
In a eulogy that aptly defines one of the country’s most recognisable moments of reconciliation and enduring legacy, Uhuru recalled he and Raila—once fierce adversaries—evolved into allies for the greater good following the pivotal truce that saw Uhuru clasp hands with Raila at Harambee House on March 9, 2018.
Also watch: Thousands of Kisumu residents took to the streets to mourn ODM leader.
From adversaries to allies
The historical moment came after the two political figureheads had been at loggerheads after the contested election of 2017.
“To me, Raila was more than a political colleague; he was a defining part of my own journey, in public service and in life. Raila and I were navigators on opposing currents, charting different courses for the nation we both loved.”
“At some point along that journey, we became political opponents, and often, the weight of that competition felt immense. Baba, as we fondly referred to him, was a man who made you sharpen your own ideas, compelling you to defend your positions with rigour and passion. However, in recent years, a different bond was forged: one of respect, of shared patriotism, and of a common desire to see a united Kenya,” he added.