Kenya held a state funeral on Friday for longtime opposition leader Raila Odinga, drawing thousands of mourners and world dignitaries to Nairobi under tight security. The event came just one day after deadly clashes erupted as crowds tried to view Odinga’s body.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Odinga, 80, died last week in India, where he was receiving medical treatment. His death marked the end of a political era for one of Kenya’s most influential and controversial figures — a man widely seen as the face of the country’s democracy movement.

President William Ruto led the state ceremony at Nyayo National Stadium, where flags flew at half-mast during a week-long national mourning period. The day was declared a public holiday to honor the former prime minister. Several African leaders, including Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, attended the funeral.

Heavy security surrounded the venue after violence broke out Thursday during a public viewing of Odinga’s body. Police fired tear gas and live rounds to disperse mourners who tried to storm the stadium gates. At least two people were reported killed and several others injured, according to local media.

Despite the unrest, Friday’s funeral was largely peaceful. Thousands of Kenyans, dressed in black and carrying national flags, filled the stands and streets around the stadium, chanting Odinga’s nickname “Baba,” which means “father.”

“Raila Odinga was the father of democracy in Kenya,” said Jean Jerry Abeka, a 24-year-old mourner who waited overnight to attend the ceremony. “He sacrificed everything for this country.”

Odinga’s casket, draped in the national flag, was placed at the center of the stadium as military officers performed a gun salute. Religious leaders from various faiths led prayers, calling for peace and unity as Kenya comes to terms with the loss of a man who shaped its modern political history.

President Ruto praised Odinga as a unifier who fought tirelessly for democratic reforms. “We have lost a great patriot,” Ruto said. “He believed in Kenya’s promise and always put the people first.”

Odinga, the son of Kenya’s first vice president, Oginga Odinga, spent more than four decades in politics. He was jailed and tortured during the struggle for multiparty democracy in the 1980s, later serving as prime minister in a power-sharing government formed after the disputed 2007 election.

Although Odinga ran unsuccessfully for president five times, he remained a powerful opposition voice and a symbol of resistance for millions. In recent years, he reconciled with Ruto, ending years of political rivalry in what many saw as an effort to stabilize the country.

His death has left a political void ahead of Kenya’s 2027 elections. Analysts say the opposition faces an uncertain future without its most recognizable leader.

“The absence of Raila Odinga will reshape Kenya’s political landscape,” said political analyst Martin Oloo. “No one has his influence, his legacy, or his connection with the grassroots.”

Odinga’s body will be transported to his home in Bondo, western Kenya, for burial on Sunday. Thousands more are expected to attend as the nation continues its farewell.

The government has urged calm during the remaining ceremonies, promising a full investigation into the violence that marred the earlier memorial events.

As the sun set over Nairobi on Friday, the stadium echoed with songs of tribute and the words that have long defined Odinga’s movement: “Peace, love, and unity.”