Tens of thousands of people mourning the death of former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga placed his open casket in Kisumu’s city square – many looking for the phrase “we are orphans” in their day.
“I came here to mourn an icon of Africa,” said BBC’s Ochixon Ochieng.
The public viewing of the respected 80-year-old man, who died in an Indian hospital on Wednesday, has now ended and his body has been taken to his farm for burial.
His widow, Ida, was asked to gather for the presentation in a calm manner to avoid chaos that led to the death of at least one mourner at the event and a large crowd at Kisumu Stadium earlier.
Odinga has a following in his political heartland in the West of the country – before dawn people, old and young, started arriving in Kisumu, on the shores of Lake Victoria.
And it is the region from where the Barack Obama family is popular and throughout the night the former US president expressed his condolences to X, calling Odinga “The True Champion of democracy”.
“A child of freedom, he endured decades of struggle and sacrifice for the wider cause of freedom and self-government in Kenya,” he said.
Odinga was the country’s main opposition leader for many years, losing five presidential campaigns, most recently three years ago. He also said that he won by winning, pointing out the placement of votes.
After the bloody elections of 2007, he became the prime minister of the federal government.
“I saw him again and again to put the interests of his country before his own interests. Just like any other leader anywhere,” Obama said.
“With his life, Raila Odinga has set an example not only for Kenyans, but across Africa and the world.”
Mourners at Jomo Kenyatta’s Kisumu Kenyatta Stadium could not have agreed more – and they were more forceful in these sentiments.
“I remember him for giving us democracy, for giving me our freedom – and now we can speak and say whatever we see is bad for us,” said Jacob Omondi that it is bad for us, “said Jacob Omondi about Odinga’s impact on his country.
Another delegate, David Ouma, said: “One of the most important lessons I have learned is behavior, because Railea has always been a very charismatic leader throughout the election…
Many of those who filled the arena dressed in orange – the party color of the Orange Democratic Movement – and took branches, a traditional symbol of mourning and sorrow among the Luolic Ehlangandlo.
According to the family, it was Odinga’s wish to be laid to rest in the shortest possible time, ideally within 72 hours.
A funeral service will be held on Sunday at the University in Bondo Town, about 60km (40 miles) west of Kisumu, followed by a private late funeral at the father’s home nearby.
Additional reporting by the BBC’s Gloria Achieng, Brian Mala and Anne Okhumu.
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