By Matilda Karisa
In the dizzying stillness of the nature that follows the passing of Kenya’s foremost political mastodon the measure of a nation’s character is best detected in moments that demand the projection of grace amid an atmosphere buoyed by possibilities of differing opinion. Such was the seismic veil of qualms that potentially draped the mood of the nation upon the demise of the indefatigable Raila Amolo Odinga.
The soul of Kenya has been laid bare—at high noon at the market square—in recent days, as it bids farewell to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Against obvious odds and in this crucible of grief, President William Ruto has, with remarkable statesmanship, deployed the resources and dignity of the state to orchestrate a farewell that transcends all vestiges of political rivalry. His actions have provided a magnum opus in national healing, for which he deserves unreserved accolades for three—among possible others—interwoven reasons.
One, Ruto has bestowed unparalleled state honour upon a non-president, two, he has demonstrated profound personal humility, and three, he has choreographed a perfect pitch of unity that has mollified the oftentimes fractious din of Kenyan politics.
First, President Ruto instantaneously recognised that the legacy of Raila Odinga was a national asset that belonged to every Kenyan and not merely to his political adherents.
The late ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga. Photo: Tuko Source: Facebook
In an address from State House as soon as the news of Raila’s passing emerged, Ruto declared the former Prime Minister “Kenya’s foremost statesman and one of Africa’s greatest sons.” The President then promptly accorded departed Raila a state funeral with all attendant honours.
This was no ordinary gesture. It was an unprecedented bestowal of presidential-level dignity upon a leader of note and a powerful acknowledgement that true stature lies not in the titles one holds, but in the ineradicable mark one leaves on the national conscience.
Raila’s body was transported in a special military vehicle and lay in state at Parliament, honours previously reserved for former Presidents Moi and Kibaki. In doing so, Ruto validated the struggles and hopes of the millions who saw in Raila a champion of their democratic aspirations.
Furthermore, President Ruto complemented these formal state gestures with a rare and disarming personal humility, which elevated the proceedings from a cold ceremonial to a genuinely human farewell. This was perhaps most vividly captured during the state funeral at Nyayo National Stadium, where the President, in a moment of raw, unscripted emotion.
This was compounded by a deeply personal handwritten tribute in Parliament’s condolence book, which read: “You helped me when I needed someone to stand by me the same way I once stood by you. Baba, you may have departed, but we will work hard to honour what you stood for.”
Lastly, and most critically, the President’s management of this period has been a masterful exercise in national unification. Following Raila’s demise, the President established a special funeral committee co-chaired by his own Deputy President, Kithure Kindiki, and Raila’s elder brother, Senator Oburu Odinga. This bipartisan composition was a symbolic handshake, a tangible structure for unity.
The President went on to declare a seven-day period of national mourning, suspending his public engagements and calling on the nation to join in “deep reflection.” In his own words, the President urged Kenyans to “come together, as he always urged us to do, not as rivals, but as brothers and sisters bound by a shared destiny.” The ensuing spectacle, from the packed Nyayo Stadium to the solemn procession in Kisumu, was not an Orange Democratic Movement affair, nor a Kenya Kwanza function. It ended up as an authentic Kenyan event.
As Kenya grapples with the humongous void left by Raila Odinga, President Ruto has, with intentionality and grace, built a bridge across the chasm of past rivalries. He has understood that how a country says goodbye often defines its path forward. In bestowing full state honour, demonstrating personal vulnerability, and assembling a unified national moment, Ruto has offered a solid foundation upon which the prospects of a more cohesive Kenya find the perfect scaffolding.
As the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once wrote, “The grace of God is found in the reconciliation of opposites.” In this dark hour, President William Ruto has embodied this grace, offering not just a decent farewell to a fallen hero, but a glimpse of a more harmonious national future.
Long live Kenya!
Karisa is a social scientist and public intellectual
