Wiper Democratic Movement Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has criticised the organisers of the state funeral for the late Raila Amolo Odinga, accusing them of sidelining the united opposition during the ceremony held at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, October 17, 2025.
Speaking shortly after the requiem mass, Kalonzo expressed disappointment that the opposition was not given an opportunity to pay tribute to a man with whom they shared decades of political struggle.
“It is unfortunate because it was a state funeral; they should have recognised the official opposition to say something. That is what Raila Odinga would have wanted,” Kalonzo said.
He further noted that even the brief acknowledgment of their presence by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki went largely unheard by the crowd.
“That is what Raila would have wished to happen. But as you saw, when DP Kindiki tried to announce some of us, nobody could hear,” he added.
Kalonzo, who served as Raila’s running mate in both the 2013 and 2017 General Elections, maintained that the gesture would have honoured the late opposition leader’s spirit of inclusivity and unity. He also revealed that he had cancelled a planned 10-day trip to the United Kingdom to attend Raila’s burial in Bondo, Siaya County.
The former vice president’s remarks came amid ongoing public discussion over the absence of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, whose nonattendance at the high-profile ceremony drew speculation online.
A Farewell Marked by Emotion and Tight Security
Thousands of mourners thronged Nyayo Stadium for the final service, waving national flags, holding portraits of Raila, and wearing T-shirts bearing his image in tribute to a man widely regarded as Kenya’s father of democracy.
Security was heightened in and around the venue following minor unrest during the public viewing on Thursday, October 16. Police and military officers were deployed to maintain order and ensure smooth proceedings.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were the Presidents of Somalia and Ethiopia, alongside other regional leaders, reflecting Raila’s influence across East Africa.
As Raila’s flag-draped casket entered the stadium in a military procession, the atmosphere turned emotional. Mourners broke into chants of “Raila usilale, bado mapambano,” a Swahili slogan meaning “Raila, don’t rest, the struggle is not over.”
The farewell encapsulated both grief and defiance, echoing the lifelong message of a leader who, even in death, remains a symbol of Kenya’s unyielding quest for justice and democracy.
