Raila Junior, the son of Raila Odinga, began by acknowledging the difficulty of finding the right way to mourn a figure who was so many things to so many people.

Speaking on October 17, 2025 at Nyayo Stadium during Raila’s State Funeral, Raila Junior spoke of his father’s profound character as an unwavering commitment to the ideals of freedom and justice. Always standing for what was right, “sometimes at great family cost and personal cost as well.”

“He was my hero. And his legacy lives in me, in my siblings and in all those whose lives he touched,” he said.

Acknowledging the immense gap left by his father’s passing and the earlier loss of his elder brother, Fidel, Raila Junior made a public pledge to step up as the family’s gentleman and caretaker.

He assured his father’s memory that he would assume the responsibility of looking after both his immediate family and the wider political circle.

“Dad, I want to now assure you that I’ll take care of our family, Mum, Rosy, Winnie, and your larger political family too. Erokamano.”

He affirmed his commitment to continuing the political values championed by his father: justice, fairness, and service to others.

Using a ceremonial whisk, Raila Junior led the crowd in a powerful chant of “Asante Baba” (Thank you, Father) as he listed the things he was grateful for. This rhythmic expression of thanks created a deeply moving and collective moment of farewell.

His points of gratitude included: The gift of life, the gift of his name and “leaving the weight of it” to him, a beautiful childhood despite challenging times, believing in him, encouraging him to speak up, and always listening, showing him grace even when he fell short or failed outright, his wisdom, guidance, and unwavering love for the entire family and grounding him in the ways of his people and encouraging him to be a man.

Raila Junior offered a final, intimate glimpse into the personal moments he would miss most like Family involvement and laughter, their conversations and watching Arsenal with him.

He concluded his tribute by wishing his father peace, invoking God’s grace and the ancestors, and speaking tenderly in Dholuo:

“May the ancestors receive you and rest well. Ning gi kwe, baba, aheri (Go with peace, father, I love you).”

He then raised the whisk one last time before inviting his sister, Winnie Odinga, to the podium.