‘Go well, my brother’: Uhuru urges Kenyans to uphold Raila’s legacy
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged Kenyans to honour the legacy of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga by upholding the democratic values, human rights, and freedoms he championed throughout his life.
Speaking during Odinga’s state funeral at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi on Friday, Kenyatta described the late opposition leader as a towering figure in Kenya’s political history, whose name would forever remain synonymous with the nation’s struggle for justice and democracy.
“When Kenya’s history is written, it cannot be written without Raila Odinga’s name being at the top,” Kenyatta said. “The history of human rights, the fight for democracy, and the journey to devolution—none of these can be told without his name appearing first.”
The former Head of State called on Kenyans to safeguard the gains made under Odinga’s leadership, saying this was the best way to preserve his legacy.
“Let us make a vow that the rights Raila defended; human rights, democracy, and freedoms will not be reversed,” he said. “We must carry them forward, for those of us who remain and for those yet to be born. That is how we will honour his legacy as a national leader.”
Injecting a touch of humour into his tribute, Kenyatta recalled lighter moments he shared with Odinga, drawing laughter from mourners.
“Sometimes after work, when we were relaxing, we would take something small,” he recounted. “And you’re laughing but that ‘something small’ was just porridge or tea!”
Reflecting on Odinga’s passing, Kenyatta said he believed his longtime political ally and rival had joined other great Kenyan leaders who already passed on.
“We used to wonder what the elders who’ve gone before us talk about when they meet. Maybe politics,” he said. “My brother, you’ve gone ahead of me. I know you’re already talking with them there. And it’s not that I’m in a hurry to join you—but when our time comes, I know you’ll be there to show us the way along those paths.”
Kenyatta concluded his tribute with a message of comfort to the Odinga family, pledging his continued support.
“Go well, my brother. May God have mercy on you, grant you peace, and comfort your family. We will remember you, continue your work, and stand by your family always,” he said.
