Chaos and grief mark final journey of opposition leader Raila Odinga as thousands gather in western Kenya for mourning ceremonies that have already left at least five dead this week
Vast crowds gathered in western Kenya on Saturday to see the body of the veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, as the nation’s biggest mourning ceremony yet unfolded in Kisumu amid grief, chaos and fear of further tragedy. Tens of thousands of mourners filled the streets and stadiums of Kisumu, Odinga’s political heartland, crying out “Baba” — meaning “father” — and chanting “We are orphans” as the late politician’s coffin arrived by helicopter.
Odinga, 80, who was widely regarded as one of Kenya’s most influential and enduring political figures, died on Wednesday in India from a suspected heart attack. His death triggered an outpouring of emotion across the country, particularly in western Kenya, where the Luo community, his tribe, holds deep allegiance to him.
As the coffin was carried into Kisumu Stadium, mourners broke through security barriers in scenes of frenzied devotion. Many clambered onto the sides of buildings and temporary structures to catch a glimpse of the casket. Emergency responders reported that more than 100 people were injured in the crush inside and around the stadium.
“Without Baba, we are dead. We don’t have anywhere to go,” said Don Pelido, a 20-year-old supporter pressed against a barrier, tears running down his face.
The atmosphere in Kisumu was charged with grief but also fear, following a series of deadly incidents earlier in the week during national mourning events. On Thursday, three people were shot dead when security forces opened fire to disperse a surging crowd at a Nairobi stadium where Odinga’s body had been brought to lie in state. A day later, at the state funeral in another Nairobi stadium attended by President William Ruto, two people were killed and dozens injured in a stampede of mourners.
Odinga’s death has plunged Kenya into deep mourning and political uncertainty. A towering figure in the country’s modern history, he served as prime minister from 2008 to 2013 and was instrumental in shaping the country’s democratic journey. Despite five attempts at the presidency, Odinga never succeeded in winning the top office, but his influence on Kenya’s politics and governance remained unmatched.
He was a central figure in the pro-democracy struggle of the 1990s that ended one-party rule and led to the restoration of multi-party democracy. He also played a pivotal role in drafting Kenya’s 2010 constitution, which was hailed internationally for its progressive structure and devolution of power.
Odinga’s body was flown back to Kenya from India on Thursday. After lying in state in Kisumu on Saturday, it will be transported to Bondo in Siaya County, the Odinga family’s ancestral home, for a private burial ceremony.
In Kisumu, grief mingled with disbelief. “We have not accepted that he is really gone. It is still a bad dream,” said Maureen Owesi, a 39-year-old shop owner, speaking as she laid flowers at a roadside memorial.
The week’s mourning ceremonies, however, have underscored not only Odinga’s enduring popularity but also the volatility that surrounds Kenya’s political landscape. Many feared that Saturday’s ceremony in Kisumu could turn deadly, given the crowd surges and chaos seen in earlier events. Police struggled to control the masses as chants of “Baba forever” rang out across the city.
Odinga, known for his pragmatic approach to politics, often made strategic alliances with his rivals — including a controversial deal with President Ruto last year. That handshake, which many saw as a move to stabilise the country, cost him support among younger voters frustrated by corruption, economic hardship and a sense of political stagnation.
Over the past two years, disillusioned youth have staged mass protests across Kenya over rising living costs and unemployment, often clashing with police. Odinga’s absence, analysts say, could leave this restless demographic without a unifying political voice, deepening instability in the run-up to the next general elections in 2027.
His death has also exposed divisions within the opposition movement, where there is no clear successor to his decades-long leadership. Critics say Odinga failed to groom a new generation of leaders who could continue his reformist legacy.
Yet, for many in Kisumu, politics was secondary to the deep sense of personal loss. Odinga, affectionately called “Baba,” was seen as both a political father and a symbol of hope for Kenya’s marginalised communities.
As night fell over Kisumu, mourners lit candles and sang freedom songs from the pro-democracy era that Odinga helped shape. Loudspeakers played his speeches from rallies past, echoing through the city that had stood by him for more than half a century.
Whether Odinga’s formidable political machine — and his delicate alliance with Ruto — will survive his passing remains uncertain. Kenya now faces a leadership vacuum in the opposition, and with elections less than two years away, the country’s political future appears more unpredictable than ever.
For now, though, Kenya mourns. In Kisumu’s packed stadium, amid tears, chants and chaos, a nation bid farewell to its “Baba” — a man whose life defined its politics and whose death has left it searching for direction.
