UgandaToday: Buganda Mourns the Loss of a Kindred Spirit: Eulogy for Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga
By UgandaToday News Desk
Kampala, Uganda – October 15, 2025
This morning brought with it a profound sorrow, as the news came through that Rt. Honourable Raila Amolo Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya and one of Africa’s most enduring champions of democracy, passed away at age 80 in India. Reports indicate he suffered cardiac arrest while undergoing medical treatment in Kochi, Kerala.
Buganda’s Eulogy: Royal Lineage, Deep Ties
In Uganda, the Buganda Kingdom has joined the chorus of mourning. Prime Minister Charles Peter Mayiga, speaking on behalf of the Kabaka and the royal institutions, recalled the longstanding friendship between the Odinga family and Buganda. He said their ties go back to the era of Ssekabaka Edward Muteesa II, a period in which familial and diplomatic links were forged between Buganda’s monarchy and prominent Kenyan families.
Mayiga expressed deep sadness, stating:
“I express my condolences to members of his family, friends, Kenyans, and all East Africans. May the Lord receive his soul.”
To Buganda, Odinga was more than a foreign statesman; he was in many ways a brother in the traditions of royal respect, heritage, and identity—a leader whose struggle for justice and human dignity resonated across our borders.
National Mourning and Statements in Kenya
Kenya officially declared a period of seven days of national mourning following Odinga’s death. President William Samoei Ruto confirmed the passing in an address to the nation, calling Odinga “Kenya’s foremost statesman,” “a once-in-a-generation leader,” and “a giant in the democratic struggle.” Flags were ordered flown at half-mast, and Odinga will be given a state funeral with full honours.
President Ruto urged Kenyans to take Odinga’s life as lesson: one of courage, sacrifice, putting country above self, and consistency in the pursuit of reform.
Reflections from Uhuru Kenyatta
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta offered a deeply personal tribute. He said:
“I have lost a friend and a brother. The news of Raila’s passing has left a silence that echoes across our nation, a silence where once there was a voice of thunder and conviction.”
Kenyatta remembered Odinga not just as a political rival, but as someone who helped shape Kenya’s path towards unity, especially since their famous Handshake of 2018. He praised Odinga’s belief in justice, peace, and national cohesion. To Mama Ida Odinga, their children, and the Odinga family, he extended his deepest condolences. The Star+2People Daily+2
Tributes from Around Africa and the World
As news spread, leaders across the continent and beyond expressed admiration for Odinga’s legacy:
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Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, described Odinga as a “towering figure in Kenya’s political life and a steadfast champion of democracy, good governance, and people-centred development.”
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Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia mourned him as a respected statesman who shaped Kenya’s political landscape and contributed to regional peace and cooperation.
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President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania called him a Pan-Africanist, peace advocate, and a leader whose influence was felt far beyond Kenyan borders.
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Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, President Hassan Mohamud of Somalia, Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh, and others also joined the many voices, characterizing Odinga as a visionary, a champion of democracy, and a voice for the marginalized.
Legacy Remembered: Democracy, Reconciliation, Hope
Raila Odinga’s life was marked by recurring themes:
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A relentless push for multiparty democracy, especially during Kenya’s transition periods.
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His role during the aftermath of the 2007 disputed election, and later constitutional reform culminating in the 2010 Constitution.
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His repeated presidential candidacies, which, though unsuccessful, mobilized vast popular support and held the political system to account.
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His evolving relationship with political rivals (such as with Uhuru Kenyatta) and eventual cooperation with sitting governments—for unity, stability, and reform.
From Buganda to Kenya, A Shared Mourning
For Buganda, Odinga’s passing is not only Kenya’s loss but one that strikes chords across our own traditions: of leadership, heritage, moral conviction, and service. With roots of friendship stretching back to the days of Ssekabaka Edward Muteesa II, the bond between Baganda and the Odingas has always carried deeper symbolism—of kinship among royal houses, mutual respect, and shared values.
As Kenya moves into days of national mourning, and as East Africa reflects on the void left by a towering statesman, Buganda mourns with Kenya. In the silence following his voice, we remember the lessons, the courage, and the legacy that remains.
May Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga rest in peace, and may his example continue to guide those who believe in democracy, justice, and unity.
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