Former President Uhuru Kenyatta delivered one of the most memorable tributes during the State Funeral of the late Raila Odinga at Nyayo Stadium on Friday, October 17, 2025. His heartfelt message, filled with humor, warmth, and deep reflection, drew cheers and applause from thousands of mourners gathered to celebrate the life of the former Prime Minister.
Uhuru offered an intimate glimpse into his private friendship with Raila, sharing moments of laughter and quiet reflection from their days working closely together. He fondly recalled evenings when they would relax with what he jokingly called “small refreshments” — quickly clarifying, to the crowd’s amusement, that he meant porridge and tea.
“Why are you all laughing?” Uhuru asked playfully. “By drinks, I am talking about porridge and tea. When we were working, we talked seriously.”
He spoke of Raila’s intellectual curiosity and admiration for Kenya’s founding fathers — Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Jomo Kenyatta, and Mwalimu Julius Nyerere — and how discussions about their legacies often led to deep political conversations between them.
“Sometimes we wondered what they used to discuss,” Uhuru reflected. “Maybe politics like us, or maybe they were watching us and laughing at our little foolishness.”
The mood then turned somber as the former president contemplated life, mortality, and legacy. “Raila was always keen to understand. Now, my brother, you’ve gone ahead of me. I’m not in a hurry to join you, but I trust God will guide us,” he said, drawing emotional applause from the audience.
Uhuru concluded with a touching prayer for Raila’s eternal rest. “So, my brother, I pray that God grants you mercy, rests you in peace, and welcomes you among your peers.”
Raila Odinga will be laid to rest on Sunday, October 19th, at his family homestead in Bondo, Siaya County, beside his mother, Mary Odhiambo Odinga — in fulfillment of his final wish.
