Thousands of mourners attended the state funeral of Kenya's former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at a national stadium in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, on Friday, October 17. Many carried national flags, portraits of the late leader, and others wore T-shirts printed with his image to pay their final respects. ALSO READ: Kagame: Odinga’s legacy will be remembered for generations Odinga, a giant figure on Kenya's political scene, died on Wednesday, aged 80 in India, where he had been receiving medical treatment. Security was tight in and around the stadium, with police and military officers deployed to prevent a recurrence of the unrest witnessed on Thursday during the body-viewing ceremony, BBC reported. At least three people died after police fired gunshots and tear gas in an attempt to contain the huge crowds who had turned out to escort Odinga's body from the country's main airport after it arrived from India. ALSO READ: Former Kenyan PM Raila Odinga dies of cardiac arrest in India However, security officers quickly restored order, and the public viewing ceremony is now proceeding smoothly. We have attended to one person who fainted inside the stadium, the Kenya Red Cross posted on X. As Odinga's body entered the stadium in a ceremonial military procession, mourners broke into chants, whistles, and songs. They chanted Raila usilale, bado mapambano, a popular Swahili political slogan, which translates as Raila, don't sleep, the struggle is not over. It is a symbolic appeal for the late leader's spirit to stay watchful, as his political struggle continues. ALSO READ: The life of Raila Odinga, a kingpin in Kenyan politics who died in India During the funeral ceremony, President William Ruto led mourners in singing Odinga's favourite reggae song, Jamaican Farewell. His widow, Ida, appealed to Kenyans to uphold peace and unity as they mourned the former prime minister. Raila hated dishonesty. He hated greed. The greed that has affected the fabric of our society, she added. Former President Uhuru Kenyatta brought a moment of warmth to the sombre ceremony as he recalled humorous and reflective times shared with Odinga. Sometimes after work, we would just sit together, talking and laughing, said Kenyatta, who had backed Odinga's unsuccessful fifth presidential bid in 2022, after beating him in disputed polls five years earlier. Bishop David Kodia, who led the service, said Odinga never used his political power and money to intimidate people. Earlier on Friday morning, Odinga's body was taken to parliament, where MPs and selected dignitaries viewed it. Mourners have been carrying branches and palm fronds, a symbol of mourning and grief among the Luo ethnic group to which Odinga belonged. On Saturday, his body will be transported to Kisumu, a city in western Kenya on the shores of Lake Victoria - his political stronghold. Members of the public will get a chance to view the body before he is buried on Sunday at his farm in Bondo, about 60km west of Kisumu. According to the family, it was Odinga's wish to be laid to rest within the shortest time possible, ideally within 72 hours.
