Tears and songs as Kisumu bids farewell to Raila Odinga
Thousands of mourners on Friday, October 18, 2025, thronged Mamboleo Stadium in Kisumu to pay their last respects to the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.
The veteran opposition leader, revered across the country and beyond as a champion of democracy and social justice, passed away on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in India following a cardiac arrest.
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From the early hours of dawn, the streets of Kisumu were filled with chants, songs, and tears as residents made their way to the stadium for the public viewing of the body.
The majority of the residents began arriving as early as 4 a.m., braving the morning chill, while others spent the night along major roads, especially at the historic Kondele roundabout. There, mourners kept vigil through the night, lighting candles, waving flags, and dancing to songs that had for years celebrated Raila’s political journey and defiance.
The crowd, with others draped in black and orange attire, carried portraits of Raila and waved flags inscribed with messages such as “Baba Forever” and “Rest Well, the Enigma.”
The atmosphere was both sombre and celebratory, a fitting reflection of the man whose name had become synonymous with hope for millions.
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Security measures
Security was tight. Officers from the National Youth Service (NYS) were strategically positioned around the VIP dais where Raila’s body would later be placed.
The Kenya Police Service, Kenya Defence Forces, and other security agencies maintained a strong presence inside and around the stadium to ensure order as the crowds swelled by the hour.
Mounted police were also deployed, ready to disperse any unruly gatherings or control stampedes should they occur.
Emergency response teams had set up temporary stations throughout the venue. Ambulances from AAR, the Kisumu County Government, the Kenya Red Cross, and St John’s Ambulance lined the periphery of the stadium, with medical personnel standing by to attend to fainting mourners or emergencies amid the intense emotion of the day.
By 7 a.m., several dignitaries had already arrived to join the mourners. Among them were Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron, Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda, City Manager Abala Wanga, and a host of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).
Inside the stadium, praise and worship songs were played to calm the mourners.
As the morning wore on, the chanting of “Jowi! Jowi!”, a traditional Luo call for a hero, rent the air. Elderly women ululated while youths waved banners bearing Raila’s portrait. His name echoed across the stadium, uniting young and old in grief and gratitude.
The body of the late Prime Minister is expected to arrive by 8 am, accompanied by family members, close allies, and government officials, before it will be placed at the centre podium for public viewing.
