Kalonzo Faults Organisers Over Opposition’s Exclusion at Raila Funeral

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has criticised the handling of Raila Odinga’s state funeral, accusing the organisers of sidelining opposition figures during the national ceremony at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday.

Musyoka said the opposition was denied a formal opportunity to pay tribute to the late former Prime Minister, arguing that the decision contradicted Odinga’s commitment to inclusive politics. “It is unfortunate because it is a state funeral; they should have recognised the official opposition to say something. That is what Raila Odinga would have wanted,” he said.

He also faulted Deputy President Kithure Kindiki for what he described as an inaudible and dismissive acknowledgement of opposition leaders in attendance. “You can see the way Kindiki announced that some of us were around; nobody could hear. But it is okay,” Musyoka remarked, suggesting the opposition was deliberately marginalised.

The funeral attracted thousands of mourners from across the country and abroad. The stadium was filled with national flags, portraits and T-shirts bearing Odinga’s image, as Kenyans gathered to honour a leader whose career spanned decades and shaped the country’s political landscape. 

Regional heads of state, including the presidents of Somalia and Ethiopia, were present, underscoring Odinga’s status as an influential African statesman. Security was tight, with police and military personnel deployed to maintain order following unrest during the public viewing on Thursday. The late leader’s body was brought into the stadium in a ceremonial military procession, prompting emotional scenes as mourners chanted “Raila usilale, bado mapambano” - Swahili for “Raila, don’t sleep, the struggle is not over.”

President William Ruto, who led the official proceedings alongside the Odinga family, struck a conciliatory tone and joined mourners in singing “Jamaican Farewell,” one of Odinga’s favourite songs. The moment was a rare display of unity in a politically divided environment.

In a moving tribute, Ida Odinga, the widow of the late leader, urged the nation to embrace honesty and reject greed, values she said her husband upheld throughout his life. “Raila hated dishonesty. He hated greed. The greed that has affected the fabric of our society,” she said.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who became Odinga’s ally after years of political rivalry, shared a personal memory, recalling moments of camaraderie in their later years. “Sometimes after work, we would just sit together, talking and laughing,” he said.

Earlier, Odinga’s body lay in state at Parliament, where dignitaries and lawmakers paid their respects. He died in India at the age of 80 while receiving medical treatment.

The body will be flown to Kisumu on Saturday, his political stronghold, where mourners have already begun traditional rituals, including carrying palm fronds and branches,  symbols of grief in the Luo community.