President William Ruto and leaders at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, October 19, 2025. /PCSMessages from world leaders,
heads of state, and global institutions paint a portrait of a leader whose
influence transcended Kenya's borders.
The sheer volume and level of tributes have underscored and
cemented Raila's networks.
It shows that while Raila was a dominant force in Kenya's
domestic politics, his impact resonated powerfully on the world stage.
Current and former heads of state, leaders of multilateral
and regional organisations, envoys and global figures have all voiced their
respect and sorrow.
The collective honour serves as a testament to a career
built not only on local political battles but on consistent engagement with
continental and international affairs.
Whether serving as Prime Minister, leading the opposition or acting as an African Union envoy, Odinga persistently shaped debates around
Kenya's foreign policy, carving out a unique role as both a nationalist and a
dedicated pan-Africanist.
The depth of Raila's international regard was made vividly
clear during the former Prime Minister's funeral service at Bondo yesterday.
His widow Ida Odinga stood before a gathering that
reflected her husband's wide-reaching connections and offered a heartfelt acknowledgement.
“I thank you for coming and for condoling with us. I know there are many leaders from other parts of Africa, among them Olusegun Obasanjo. Thank you very much for coming. Obasanjo was here after Jaramogi died and opened the mausoleum," she said.
"Morgan Tsvangirai’s wife. Your words, letters and social media posts have gone a long way in lessening our pain and lifting our spirits."
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki noted with appreciation the many world leaders who sent their messages of condolences as well as those who came in person.
The roll call of condolences received by the government and
family was a testament to Raila's reach.
From across Africa, it included Tanzania’s President Samia
Suluhu Hassan, who dispatched a high-level delegation led by Vice President
Philip Mpango, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Further tributes came from Ghana’s former President John Mahama, Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa, Gambia’s Adama Barrow and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa.
All the presidents from the East African Community sent in their condolence messages, including Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, who had also endorsed him in his unsuccessful bid for the AU Commission chairmanship.
In his message, Museveni noted that Raila and his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, consistently advocated for "the unity of Kenya, East Africa and Africa".
This extended to the regional organisations — the EAC and Igad — as well as the African Union.
From the immense display of global solidarity, Kindiki said, “You can see for yourself who Raila was, not just for Kenya but also across the world. We don't take it for granted that our leader has been respected."
From the South, Ramaphosa, Raila's long-time ally, mourned him as a patriotic and selfless leader, whom he knew and worked with as “a friend and brother”.
"Raila Odinga was committed to the development of his own nation as well as prosperity and the silencing of the guns on our continent, as evidenced by his appointment by the African Union to advance peace in Côte d’Ivoire in 2010,” he said.
"He remained unwaveringly true to his principles and vision in the face of deep personal sacrifice and obstacles, and remained a leader who placed the interests of his country and continent first."
His long-time opposition politics ally, President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, who equally vied for the presidency five times, also sent in his condolence message, eulogising him as a towering advocate for democracy.
The respect extended far beyond the continent, with
condolences from His Royal Highness King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia,
the government of France and the United Kingdom’s Minister for International
Development, Jenny Chapman.
The leadership of the United Nations, the European Union and the World Health
Organisation also offered official messages, alongside US Senator James Risch
and the embassies of Italy, Australia, Canada, Russia and the People's Republic of
China.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had known Raila since his days as Chief Minister of Gujarat (2001-14). In honour of his longtime friend, Modi facilitated the repatriation of Raila’s remains from Kochi to Mumbai using an Air Force helicopter.
While firmly anchored in African solidarity, Raila's diplomacy also embraced pragmatic relationships with Western powers, who viewed
him as a key partner.
US Senator James Risch eulogised him as “a true friend to
America” who dedicated his life to peace.
Yet his foreign policy was uniquely his own, often marked
by bold and principled stands. He was unafraid to criticise Israel's actions in
Gaza as "brutal and primitive" and to challenge his own government's
foreign policy decisions.
His recent appointment by President William Ruto as Kenya’s Special Envoy for South Sudan was a final, fitting chapter in a career dedicated to regional stability.
The widespread recognition was the result of a lifetime of diplomatic engagement rooted in pan-African ideals.
The dedication to regional integration was a constant theme, echoed by the East African Community, which praised him as a "steadfast believer" in collective development.
In the end, the unified voice of the world in mourning his death has firmly cemented Raila Odinga’s legacy not merely as a Kenyan political titan but also as a statesman of truly global significance.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
The global reaction is a final, powerful validation of Raila's strategy. It proves that his influence was not just a byproduct of his domestic power but a core component of his political project. He was one of the few Kenyan politicians who could genuinely command an international audience, making him a figure of significance not just in Nairobi but in capitals and international organisations around the world. His death leaves a vacuum not only in the country’s opposition politics but also in Kenya's diplomatic presence on the global stage.
