Kisumu was plunged into deep mourning on Wednesday following the sudden death of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, a man revered across the lakeside region and beyond as a symbol of democracy, reform, and resilience.
Shops, offices, and markets remained closed as thousands of residents poured into the streets, some wailing uncontrollably, others waving twigs and portraits of the fallen leader.
A cloud of sorrow hung over the city as people gathered in small groups, reminiscing on Odinga’s decades-long struggle for multi-party democracy and social justice.
At the iconic Kondele roundabout, often regarded as the heartbeat of Raila’s political base, emotional scenes unfolded as mourners lit candles, sang dirges, and recited liberation songs associated with the veteran politician.
“We have lost a father, a liberator, and the voice of the voiceless,” said 78-year-old Mzee Odungi Randa, Chairman of the Luo Council of Elders.
Addressing the media at Ofafa Hall, the headquarters of the Council, Odungi described Odinga’s death as a monumental loss not only for the Luo community but to the entire nation.
Randa appealed for calm and unity, urging residents to honour Raila’s memory by maintaining peace.
“Let us mourn him with dignity and continue the vision he stood for, a just and united Kenya,” he said.
Kisumu County Assembly Speaker, Elisha Oraro echoed similar sentiments, terming Odinga’s passing a dark day for the nation.
He said the county leadership would convene a special Session in the Assembly to pay tribute to the former Premier, describing him as a statesman who transformed Kenya’s political landscape.
Businesses along Oginga Odinga Street, Jomo Kenyatta Highway, and Kibuye market remained shut for the better part of the day.
The usually vibrant Kisumu bus park was unusually silent as transport operators joined in mourning, draping their vehicles with black ribbons.
In Manyatta, Nyalenda, and Obunga informal settlements, residents huddled around radios and televisions sets, to keep up with updates from Nairobi. Some homes hoisted black flags in a show of grief.
Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, a long-time ally of Odinga, described the late Raila Amollo Odinga as a powerful man who has rested likening him to a lion that has returned to the mountain.
He said the ODM leader was more than a politician, calling him “a movement, a rhythm in Kenya’s heartbeat, and a voice that thundered in Parliament and whispered in prison cells.”
Prof. Nyong’o noted that despite imprisonment, betrayal, and vilification, Raila remained unbowed, driven by conviction and faith in a better Kenya.
“Raila has not died,” the Governor said. “He has only taken a warrior’s rest. His legacy is eternal — his spirit lives on in the Constitution and in every Kenyan who dares to speak truth to power.”
by Chris Mahandara
