As thousands gathered in Bondo, Siaya County, to bid farewell to former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga, a special tribute publication by The Star Kenya became an unexpected source of comfort and reflection for many mourners.
The national daily produced a commemorative souvenir in
honour of Raila, which was distributed free of charge to mourners at the burial
ceremony and across various parts of the country.
The souvenir captured heartfelt tributes, memories, and reflections on the life and legacy of the veteran opposition leader.
During the ceremony, mourners, including members of the Odinga family such as Winnie Odinga and Raila Odinga Junior, were seen reading the souvenir as they followed the burial service.
Prominent leaders, among them Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Attorney General Dorcas Oduor, and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, were also spotted leafing through the publication.
Beyond the burial grounds, The Star distributed thousands of copies to traders, motorists, and the public in towns, shops, supermarkets, and petrol stations across the country.
The gesture was aimed at honouring Raila’s lifelong
contribution to democracy and national unity.
The souvenir, which quickly became a keepsake among mourners, featured tributes from leaders, colleagues, and associates who worked closely with Raila during his decades in public life.
In his tribute, Radio Africa Group founding CEO Patrick
Quarcoo described Raila as a master of human connection and strategy:
“Raila knew instinctively where to invest in relationships and manage them. He had an incredible knack for remembering occasions, historical facts, faces and the people along his journey with incredible clarity, which is why many connected with his humanity, warmth, and humility, with a loyalty that goes beyond tribe and nationality.”
Quarcoo further reflected on Raila’s ability to influence
political transitions across three administrations:
“He did what was tactically expedient but strategically configured to leave him quietly in control of his own destiny and that of the nation.”
The Star’s Editorial Director Paul Ilado paid a deeply
personal tribute, describing Raila as a man who lived and breathed democracy:
“Baba taught me that democracy isn’t won in elections, it’s built in quiet moments: a call returned at midnight, a hand on a grieving shoulder, a yes when the world says no. His race is finished, but ours has just begun.”
As mourners flipped through the glossy pages filled with photos and memories, the souvenir offered a poignant reminder of Raila Odinga’s enduring influence, not only as a political titan but as a symbol of hope, resilience, and humanity.
Raila was laid to rest after the burial service at the Kang'o ka Jaramogi family home in Bondo, Siaya.
