Opposition leaders were among thousands of Kenyans who turned up to mourn
former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at the Nyayo National Stadium.
However, none of them addressed the mourners
during the nearly four-hour service led by the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK).
The team was led by former Vice President
Kalonzo Musyoka, who cut short his 10-day trip to the United Kingdom (UK)
yesterday to return home and join the country in mourning.
Others included former Interior Cabinet
Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i, Martha Karua who was Raila’s running mate in the
last elections, former Attorney General and DP leader Justin Muturi, DAP-K
leader Eugene Wamalwa, and United Opposition head of secretariat Mukhisa
Kituyi.
The group had earlier joined MPs at Parliament
Buildings to pay their last respects to their former colleague, whose body was
lying in state ahead of the service.
Speaking on Citizen TV after the service, Dr.
Matiang’i described Raila as a patriot who kept no grudges.
“What always amazed me about Raila Odinga was
that every time we met, even during difficult moments, there was never a time
he failed to laugh or make a light-hearted joke about it. There was no hatred
between us. For me, it was duty, and for him, politics was never a matter of
hatred or blood,” Matiang’i said.
Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, who chairs
Matiang’i’s Jubilee Party, asked Kenyans to protect the ideals that Raila
fought for as a way of preserving his legacy.
“Let us make a vow that the rights Raila
defended, human rights, democracy, and freedoms, will not be reversed. We must
carry them forward, for those of us who remain and for those yet to be born.
That is how we will honour his legacy as a national leader,” Uhuru said amid
thunderous cheers.
Raila, a veteran opposition leader,
unsuccessfully ran for President a record five times. What he was denied in
life was later granted to him in death, as the state will accord him a state
burial on Sunday.
For a man with many monikers — including “Tinga”,
“Agwambo”, “Jakom”, “Baba Fidel”, “Wuod Mary”, “Nyundo”, “The Enigma”, and
finally “Baba” — his name will remain immortalised for his role in opening
Kenya’s democratic space.
“When Kenya’s history is written, it cannot be
written without Raila Odinga’s name at the top. The history of human rights,
the fight for democracy, and the journey to devolution — none of these can be
told without his name appearing first,” Uhuru said.
Bondo ACK Bishop Rev. Prof. David Kodia, who
led the mass, said Raila abhorred corruption and never used money to influence
supporters.
“The
question is, how do we apply the power to proclaim what God has given us for
the good of the nation and humanity? Baba was one such politician who never
used the power of money to intimidate people. Today, we have bad manners among
our politicians. They have taught our people the culture of handouts — that
whatever you want, you must part with money. And woe unto those who drive big
vehicles; you’re in big trouble,” Bishop Kodia said.
