By Obinna TV Studios Editorial Team | October 19, 2025
When Raila Odinga’s casket touched down in Kisumu, it wasn’t just Kenya that mourned, the world arrived in force. The 2025 burial became a diplomatic summit disguised as a farewell, with dignitaries jetting in from every corner, turning a Luo village into a geopolitical hotspot.
Leading the pack was South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, who flew in on a chartered jet, evoking Mandela-Raila parallels with a speech on “unbroken chains of liberation.” Beside him, Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed, fresh from Nobel glow, shared tales of Raila’s Pan-African whispers during AU summits. Even Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan graced the podium, her hijab a stark contrast to the tribal shields, praising Baba as East Africa’s “elder statesman.”
Closer to home, Uganda’s Museveni arrived with a delegation, his presence a cheeky reminder of Raila’s border-crossing alliances. Nigeria’s Tinubu sent a high-level envoy, while Ghana’s Akufo-Addo quipped about Raila’s “handshake diplomacy” outlasting his own. Surprise guests included UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who hailed Raila as a “bridge-builder in turbulent times,” and a low-key delegation from Cuba, nodding to Baba’s socialist roots.
Locally, ODM heavyweights mingled with rivals: Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, and even Gideon Moi, forging fleeting unity. The VIP tent buzzed with side deals – whispers of post-Raila coalitions – amid plates of nyama choma and Tusker brews.
This wasn’t mere mourning; it was a global affirmation of Raila’s reach. From Addis Ababa to Washington, leaders left taller, inspired by the giant they laid to rest.
