Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian counterpart Taye Atske Selassie were the heads of state who attended
the State Funeral, while others either sent high-level representatives or formal condolences.
Tanzania President Suluhu Hassan was
represented by Vice President, Philip Mpango, accompanied by Foreign Minister
Amb. Mahmoud Thabiti, while South Sudan Present Salva Kiir sent the Fourth Vice
President and close Odinga family friend Rebecca Nyandeng Garang.
Nyandeng earlier on Thursday visited the Kenya
embassy in Juba to pay tribute to Raila.
Reflecting on Raila’s longstanding relationship
with the Garang family, which is evidenced by his support and refuge for the
late Dr. John Garang during the liberation struggle, VP Nyandeng described the
former Prime Minister as a pillar of democracy and justice.
Former Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete also
attended the event. At the JKIA, Kikwete recalled his time with Raila, particularly
during the 2007-08 negotiations following the controversial election.
Rwanda President Paul Kagame was represented by
Interior Minister Vincent Biruta.
In his earlier message, President Kagame remembered Raila for his "lifelong dedication to public service and his steadfast commitment to democracy, justice, and unity in Kenya and across Africa". These attributes, Kagame said, will be remembered for generations to come.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki also announced
various countries and international organizations that had sent formal condolence
messages.
These included Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia,
Djibouti, Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Burundi, Sierra Leonne, Zimbabwe, The Gambia,
South Africa, India and the DRC.
DP Kindiki added that they were inn receipt condolence
messages from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, AU Commission chairperson
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, IGAD executive secretary Workneh Gebeyehu, WHO director general
is Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Assistant Commonwealth Secretary General Luis G.
Franceschi, UN Undersecretary-General and executive director of the Africa economic
council is Claver Gatete and EAC secretary general Veronica Nduva.
Kindiki also said they had received condolences
from US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator Jim Risch and from
the UK.
Additionally, the DP said, they had received
apologies from UK Minister for International Development and Africa Jenny
Chapman.
Chapman had earlier eulogized Raila as a
towering figure in African politics, who devoted his life to the pursuit of
democracy, justice, and unity.
Among the diplomatic missions in Kenya that
Kindiki announced had sent in condolences include the EU delegation, Italy,
Australia, Canada, Russia Federation, China, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Germany.
