As Kenya’s capital descended into collective mourning, supporters of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga filled the streets of Nairobi in a striking show of grief waving fresh green twigs torn from city trees as a symbol of sorrow and solidarity.
From highways to backstreets, the city turned into a sea of green as thousands marched, their chants, whistles, and cries echoing through the air. The green branches, once part of the city’s foliage, became emblems of mourning, unity, and devotion to the late opposition leader.
At the height of the frenzy, mourners thronged the Central Business District, bringing traffic to a standstill. Motorists reported chaotic scenes as some supporters waved twigs at car windows and even fastened them onto windscreens, blurring visibility and asserting symbolic control over the city’s roads.
Despite the disorder, law enforcement appeared to take a hands-off approach, with little visible effort to contain the crowds. The atmosphere suggested an unspoken understanding the city belonged to ‘Baba’s’ supporters that day.
One viral video captured the surreal tension: a motorist in a red Mazda Axela was blocked by a crowd demanding he salute a portrait of Raila Odinga before being allowed to continue. After several uneasy moments, he complied, earning cheers and applause as the crowd stepped aside.
Similar scenes played out across Thika Road, Mombasa Road, and parts of Kisumu, where drivers were seen moving with twigs tied to their vehicles a spontaneous ritual marking Odinga’s enduring influence even in absence.
Entrepreneurs quickly joined in, as hawkers emerged selling branches for as little as Ksh.100, ensuring that no mourner was left out of the symbolic tribute.
The emotional wave is expected to continue on Saturday at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu, where thousands are set to gather for Odinga’s final farewell a spectacle likely to be marked, once again, by a sky of green and the fervent energy of a nation bidding goodbye to one of its most consequential leaders.
