It is all songs, dances, and the sound of vuvuzelas at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu, as thousands of residents gather to await the arrival of Raila Amollo Odinga’s body.
The atmosphere inside and around the stadium is electric.
Men, women, and children—some waving twigs, others seated patiently on the terraces—are dressed in Raila-branded T-shirts, lesos, and scarves.
Many hold portraits of the late opposition leader aloft, chanting his name in unison as they await the start of the public viewing ceremony.
Old and young women, including some using crutches, have defied the morning chill to catch a final glimpse of the man they fondly call Baba.
“I left Homa Bay yesterday and spent the night in Kondele, where there was a vigil for Baba,” Mark Oluoch, one of the mourners, said.
“By 6 am., I was already inside the stadium. This is my last time seeing him, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
By early morning, the 25,000-capacity stadium was nearly full as more crowds streamed in from across the Nyanza region and beyond.
Groups of mourners could be seen arriving in buses, motorcycles, and private vehicles from Siaya, Migori, Homa Bay, and other neighbouring counties.
Songs of liberation, praise, and farewell echoed across the stands as security officers maintained tight control at all gates.
Multiple checkpoints were manned by officers from the Kenya Police Service, Administration Police, General Service Unit, and county enforcement teams.
Attendees were screened thoroughly, with vehicles directed to designated parking zones outside the main venue.
Senior government officials and local leaders had already arrived by mid-morning.
Among them were Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda, Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron, and former Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa.
Their presence added to the anticipation as the crowd waited for the arrival of the plane carrying Raila’s body.
Medical and emergency response teams from the Kisumu County Government and the Kenya Red Cross were also stationed around the venue to handle any incidents.
For many in attendance, the event marks not just a farewell but a historic moment of unity, emotion, and reflection.
As the chants of “Baba! Baba!” echoed through the stadium, Kisumu stood still—ready to honour a man whose decades-long political journey has left an indelible mark on Kenya’s democracy.
