It was a huge crowd of Kenyans that converged on Thursday Mombasa Road and the streets of Nairobi to pay their last respects to the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.
This was during the transportation of his lifeless body from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani for a public viewing.
The 30-kilometer funeral procession that was led by the military, family members, and top government officials was so touching that people of Nairobi from all social classes came out and stood along the roads to say goodbye to the man they called Baba.
Just before 11 a.m., the heavy gun carriage of the army that was carrying the coffin of Odinga left JKIA, followed by a motorcade of mourners, political leaders, and a crowd of supporters who were waving flags, twigs, and placards to honor the late statesman.
In a very unusual event, parts of the Nairobi Expressway that were normally closed were opened to the public thereby giving the people a chance to walk there. It was not a demonstration or political activities, but rather a common mourning and paying of last respects to a leader who is considered as the father of Kenya’s second liberation by most people.
It was first planned that the body of Raila Odinga would be viewed by the public at Parliament Buildings but later on, the venue was changed to Kasarani to be able to hold more people.
Notwithstanding the very short time to make the preparations, the stadium was packed as soon as, which can be counted as one of the grandest public viewings in the recent history of Kenya and a clear reflection of Raila Odinga’s unparalleled impact and energizing power.
Within the stadium, people talked, sang, and even danced, which used to be the hallmark of Odinga’s energetic political rallies, but now, they are songs of homage and memory.
They held twigs and placards in their hands, standing together – commemorating a man whose bravery, martyrdom, and inexhaustible quest for justice were the elements that made great Kenya’s democratic road.