Wajackoyah mourns Raila in heartfelt tribute

She was accompanied by her daughter, Winnie Odinga, also clad in black, alongside other family members who stood by her as she made her way into the compound.

Security officers quickly shut the gates behind them, symbolising both the privacy the family now needs and the magnitude of the grief that has engulfed the household.

Plans are underway to transport Raila’s body from the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu, where thousands of Kenyans have lined up for public viewing over the course of the day.

Raila's body will be airlifted from Kisumu to his rural home in Bondo, Siaya county, this evening for a night vigil ahead of his burial on Sunday.

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo confirmed that the body will not be transported by road as earlier planned. Instead, it will be flown directly from Kisumu’s Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium to Bondo for logistical and security reasons.

Omollo said the decision was reached after consultations with the National Funeral Steering Committee and the family, to ensure the late opposition leader receives a dignified and well-coordinated send-off.

As Kenya continues to reel from the loss of one of its most prominent statesmen, the scenes in Bondo highlight the deep connection between Raila Odinga, his family, and the community that has walked with him throughout his public life.

Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah has paid a moving tribute to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, describing him as a political father whose absence has left him “an orphan.”

Wajackoyah, who jetted back into the country from the United States, travelled to Raila’s Opoda Farm in Bondo, Siaya county, where he joined other local and international leaders in mourning the veteran statesman.

Speaking to the press after paying his respects, the professor reflected on Raila’s influence on his political journey, saying the ODM leader had been a guiding light and mentor.

“He has left me as an orphan,” Wajackoyah said.

The professor acknowledged that Raila’s long-standing role in shaping the nation’s destiny cannot be replaced. 

“I was holding on to him, learning from him. Everything you see about me is from Raila and his father. I don’t know how we will fill that gap. Raila’s shoes are too big to fill, and I can’t even move near them because they are big shoes.”

Wajackoyah praised Raila’s honesty, integrity, and remarkable ability to reconcile even with his fiercest critics.

“He is a man of honesty and integrity. He loves his enemies. There are those who abused him and called him names, but at the end of the day, he laughed with them and embraced them,” he said.

Wajackoyah’s tribute added to the growing chorus of voices describing Raila as a leader who transcended politics to embody the hopes of many Kenyans.

His remarks came as Kenyans continued to grapple with the loss of Raila, who died on October 15 at the age of 80 while undergoing treatment in India.

The news of his death plunged the country into mourning, with tributes pouring in from across the political divide and beyond Kenya’s borders.

For Wajackoyah, Raila’s passing is not just a national loss but a personal blow.

The body of the former Prime Minister is expected to be airlifted from Kisumu to his rural home in Bondo, Siaya County, this evening for a night vigil ahead of his burial on Sunday.

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo confirmed that the body will not be transported by road as earlier planned. Instead, it will be flown directly from Kisumu’s Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium to Bondo for logistical and security reasons.

Omollo said the decision was reached after consultations with the National Funeral Steering Committee and the family, to ensure the late opposition leader receives a dignified and well-coordinated send-off.