Grief and disbelief have swept across Raila Odinga’s home area in Homa Bay after news broke that the veteran Kenyan politician passed away. Villagers gathered in numbers, crying openly and holding candlelight vigils as the once-boisterous streets fell silent under the weight of national loss.
According to widely reported news accounts, Odinga died at age 80 due to cardiac arrest while in India. The Guardian+2Reuters+2 His passing marks the end of an era in Kenya’s political landscape — a man whose voice symbolized hope, resistance, and tenacious advocacy for democracy.
In his home region, the emotional impact was immediate. Villagers were seen consoling one another, many wiping away tears as they spoke about “Baba” — affectionately Odinga’s nickname — as a father figure to the nation. Some lit candles outside his ancestral home, others sang his campaign songs, and many reminisced about the times he visited local schools, clinics, and public meetings.
Long-time residents expressed a sense of personal loss, saying his presence had always been felt deeply at the grassroots level. “He was one of us,” one villager said. “When he spoke, even children listened. I feel like we’ve lost a family member today.”
Many pointed to his enduring legacy in his hometown: development projects like roads, water boreholes, and scholarships he helped facilitate over the years. Several young leaders, activists, and students spoke of how his calls for accountability and inclusion inspired them to enter public service themselves.
National leaders have also rushed to express condolences. Kenya’s current president declared seven days of national mourning and ordered flags to fly at half-mast. AP News+2AP News+2 As the body of Odinga arrives back home, the government has announced a state funeral to bring the nation together in grief and reflection. AP News+1
For Homa Bay, these days of mourning are more than ritual — they’re personal. In markets, on farms, in kitchens, people whisper stories of encounters with Odinga: when he paused to greet a neighbor, when he invited students to speak, when he listened without power or privilege. Many say they’ll carry his dreams forward, even in sorrow.
Yet amid the heartbreak, there’s also resolve. Conversations pivot to who will fill the void, and how to preserve his principles in the next generation of leaders. Local politicians are meeting. Community groups are planning memorials. And citizens are calling for unity in the face of such a profound loss.
As the nation watches the mourning unfold, Odinga’s home becomes a stage not just for grief, but for legacy — a place where tears and determination mingle, where a community remembers not just the man who died, but the movement he built.
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