'I'm grateful our paths crossed': President Ruto eulogizes Raila Odinga

The President, accompanied by First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto, led Kenyans in marking the second day of public events to honour Mr Odinga’s legacy ahead of his funeral on Sunday.

"I am truly and eternally grateful that our paths crossed, and that we shared this journey together," the President said in his remarks.

"We have been both collaborators and competitors, friends and rivals, but always patriotic Kenyans, united by a dream greater than ourselves, a dream bigger than any partisan divide, a dream of our united motherland, Kenya," he added.

The service was presided over by the Rev David Kodia, bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Bondo, assisted by the Rev Jonathan Kabiru, Bishop of Nairobi Diocese, Rev Colonel Granton Mwanyanya, the Anglican Principal Chaplain.

Odinga’s spouse, Ida Odinga, led their children Rosemary, Raila Junior and Winnie, and other family members to the solemn ceremony. 

Mourning her late husband, Mama Ida urged Kenyans to emulate Mr Odinga’s forgiving nature, values which he embodied in his personal life and leadership.

"Don’t carry grudges from one generation to another,” she said. “We are all Kenyans, and we must learn to forgive easily and build a united Kenya. One thing that he kept repeating to me is that we must urge Kenyans to live in peace."

Odinga passed away at 80 on Wednesday morning in India, where he had been receiving treatment for a while.

On Thursday, President Ruto led Kenyans in receiving Odinga’s body, which arrived aboard a Kenya Airways flight, and for a public viewing later in the evening. 

Thousands of enthusiastic mourners turned up to receive the body at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and accompanied it all the way to the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, for public viewing. 

At the State funeral on Friday, a public holiday in honour of Odinga, were Presidents Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somalia) and Taye Sellasie (Ethiopia), and Vice-Presidents Philip Mpango (Tanzania) and Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior (South Sudan). 

Also in attendance were former Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya) and Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania), Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Chief Justice Martha Koome and members of the diplomatic corps.

Present too were Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri, Vice CDF Lt-General John Omenda and Service Commanders Lt-General David Ketter (Army), Major-General Benard Waliaula (Air Force), and Major-General Paul Otieno (Navy).

Earlier, Odinga’s body lay-in-state at Parliament buildings to give an opportunity to leaders of the three arms of government - the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary - to pay their last respects. 

President Ruto, Parliament Speakers Moses Wetangula (National Assembly) and Amason Kingi (Senate), and CJ Koome led MPs and other leaders in paying the last respects.

It was a fitting tribute to Odinga who served as Lang'ata MP for 20 years, between 1992 and 2013. During that period, he championed some of the most consequential pieces of legislation in Kenya's history, most notably the passage of the 2010 Constitution during his tenure as Kenya’s Prime Minister.

President Ruto said Odinga gave more to the nation than he ever received from it during his lifetime. 

"He endured years of imprisonment, exile, and political struggle not for the privilege of power, but for the principle of service," he said.

Retired President Kenyatta mourned the former PM as a true Kenyan patriot who often put his country and its people first.

"Raila loved Kenya more than anything else, and he loved all Kenyans equally. Raila loved you because of your vision, not because of the colour of your skin or tribe," he said.

Odinga's body will be transported to Kisumu City tomorrow for public viewing ahead of his burial on Sunday. 

He will be interred at the Kang'o ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County, beside his father, Independence struggle hero and Kenya's first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

Others present during the Friday memorial service were Governors, Cabinet Secretaries, MPs, MCAs, and other leaders.