Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka addresses mourners at the State Funeral of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Bondo on October 19, 2025./PCS
Eulogising Raila as a fearless fighter for justice, truth,
and anti-corruption, the former Vice President said he would carry forward the
ideals that defined Raila’s political journey.
“I want to talk to Raila. We called you Joshua, but we never
got to Canaan. There were indeed crocodiles across the River Jordan, as you
used to say,” Kalonzo said during the burial ceremony at the Jaramogi Oginga
Odinga University of Science and Technology on Sunday.
He added that while Raila did not live to see the promised
land, his mission would not end in vain.
My brother Raila, we called you Joshua. You saw the promised
land from the mountain top but never reached Canaan. But we will get there on
your behalf,” he said.
Kalonzo pledged to uphold the values Raila stood for,
including the fight for democracy, justice, and national unity. “I give you my
pledge — those values you stood for, the tears and pain of stolen elections,
will not be in vain. The nation must unite together,” he said.
Referring to a line from the funeral programme, Kalonzo drew
parallels between Raila’s struggles and the words of Martin Luther King Jr.:
“You have been to the mountaintop; you have seen the
promised land. You may never get there with us, but we have to get there on
your behalf.”
Kalonzo worked closely with Raila over the years, serving as
his running mate in two consecutive presidential elections. In 2022, he stepped
aside to allow Martha Karua to take the position.
The Wiper boss was the only opposition leader who addressed
the gathering. Other dignitaries present included People’s Liberation Party
leader Martha Karua, former Chief Justice David Maraga, former Interior Cabinet
Secretary Fred Matiang’i, and DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa.
In a separate social media tribute, Kalonzo revealed that
his bond with Raila extended beyond politics.
“Raila was a man who valued friendship, and we were both
great fans of Arsenal Football Club. We used to go to the club to watch
football together,” he wrote.
He described Raila as a visionary who reshaped Kenya’s
political landscape, adding that his legacy would live on.
Raila Odinga passed away on Wednesday, October 15, while
undergoing treatment in India.
