A sombre mood gripped the capital, Nairobi, and the city of Kisumu, as well as Bondo and Kibera, other parts of the country, after the death of the former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, who died on Wednesday, October 15.
Hundreds of Kenyans have trooped to Raila's residence in Bondo, marching with green leaves along roads and streets, bringing businesses and transport activities in the town to a halt.
In Kisumu, the situation was no different; businesspeople in Kisumu CBD said that they had voluntarily closed all business activities to mourn Raila. Wailing supporters led by hundreds of boda boda riders flooded the streets of Kisumu using motorcycles and whistles.
The residents, describing Raila as their hero, called on the government to suspend all state activities in his honour.
"We feel very sad, nervous, and shaken, because Raila is a leader who has fought for many lives and the rights of Kenyans. May his soul rest in peace," one resident said.
"The mood is not good, and so we have closed our businesses to mourn our hero. No one has been forced to close their businesses, but they are sad because we have lost someone we really admired," another resident said.
In Kibera, which Raila once represented as a Member of Parliament, residents poured into the streets, wailing and chanting to mourn his death.
At Odinga's Karen home, supporters flooded his home wailing and emphasising the importance of coming together to honour the former Prime Minister, who was widely celebrated for championing peace and national unity.
"Let the death of Raila lead to unity in the country because for years, Raila has always wanted to unite the country. Kenya should be renamed to Raila," one supporter said.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader, who was undergoing treatment in India, died after suffering a cardiac arrest during a morning walk on Wednesday, October 15.
According to a hospital spokesperson, Raila was pronounced dead at around 9:52am upon arrival in the hospital. According to Reports, Raila was with his daughters and relatives when he suffered cardiac arrest.
Several of Raila’s supporters have emphasised the importance of coming together to honour the former Prime Minister, who was widely celebrated for championing peace and national unity.
"Let the death of Raila lead to unity in the country because for years, Raila has always wanted to unite the country. Kenya should be renamed to Raila," one supporter said.
Neither the President nor ODM has confirmed the news. Avoiding confirming the news, the ODM Communications Director Philip Etale simply wrote, "I am deflated," on his social media.
The President is expected to share more details on Odinga's death after concluding the extraordinary meeting of the National Security Council, which kicked off moments ago.
