Tens of thousands of people mourning the death of former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga have filed past his open coffin at a stadium in Kisumu - many crying out the phrase 'we are orphans' in their grief.
'I have come here to mourn an icon of Africa,' said mourner Dixon Ochieng. The public viewing of the revered 80-year-old, who died at an Indian hospital on Wednesday, has concluded and his body has been flown to his farm for burial.
His widow Ida appealed for calm to avoid chaos that had led to the deaths of at least five mourners at other events. Odinga enjoyed a deep reverence in his political heartland, where mourners began arriving before dawn to pay their respects. Former President Barack Obama, whose Kenyan family roots trace back to the region, also expressed condolences, describing Odinga as a 'true champion of democracy.'
Odinga was a major opposition figure for decades, having lost five presidential races and accused of electoral manipulation. He became prime minister after a violent 2007 election dispute and was known for prioritizing his country’s interests over personal ambitions.
Mourners gathered at Kisumu’s stadium to honor his legacy, many dressed in orange, symbolizing Odinga’s political party. His funeral service will take place in Bondo, followed by a private burial at his family’s mausoleum.
'I have come here to mourn an icon of Africa,' said mourner Dixon Ochieng. The public viewing of the revered 80-year-old, who died at an Indian hospital on Wednesday, has concluded and his body has been flown to his farm for burial.
His widow Ida appealed for calm to avoid chaos that had led to the deaths of at least five mourners at other events. Odinga enjoyed a deep reverence in his political heartland, where mourners began arriving before dawn to pay their respects. Former President Barack Obama, whose Kenyan family roots trace back to the region, also expressed condolences, describing Odinga as a 'true champion of democracy.'
Odinga was a major opposition figure for decades, having lost five presidential races and accused of electoral manipulation. He became prime minister after a violent 2007 election dispute and was known for prioritizing his country’s interests over personal ambitions.
Mourners gathered at Kisumu’s stadium to honor his legacy, many dressed in orange, symbolizing Odinga’s political party. His funeral service will take place in Bondo, followed by a private burial at his family’s mausoleum.
