Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka viewing Prime Minister Raila Odinga's body / HANDOUTWiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has criticised the organisers of the state funeral for Raila Odinga, saying the opposition was sidelined during the ceremony.
On Friday, President William Ruto and Raila’s family led the country in mourning the death of the former Prime Minister at Nyayo Stadium.
“It is unfortunate because it is a state funeral; they should have recognised the official opposition to say something. That is what Raila Odinga would have wanted,” Kalonzo said.
He added that even the announcement by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki acknowledging their presence was barely audible.
“You can see the way Kindiki announced that some of us were around; nobody could hear. But it is okay,” he said.
Many carried national flags, portraits of the late leader, and wore T-shirts printed with his image to pay their final respects.
Security remained tight in and around the stadium, with police and military officers deployed to prevent a recurrence of the unrest witnessed on Thursday during the body-viewing ceremony.
The presidents of Somalia and Ethiopia are among the regional leaders attending the funeral service at the Nyayo National Stadium.
As Raila's body entered the stadium in a ceremonial military procession, mourners broke into chants, whistles, and songs.
They chanted "Raila usilale, bado mapambano", a popular Swahili political slogan, which translates as "Raila, don't sleep, the struggle is not over".
It is a symbolic appeal for the late leader's spirit to stay watchful, as his political struggle continues.
Ruto led mourners in singing Raila's favourite reggae song, Jamaican Farewell.
His widow, Ida, appealed to Kenyans to uphold peace and unity as they mourned the former prime minister.
"Raila hated dishonesty. He hated greed. The greed that has affected the fabric of our society," she added.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta brought a moment of warmth to the sombre ceremony as he recalled humorous and reflective times shared with Raila.
"Sometimes after work, we would just sit together, talking and laughing," said Kenyatta, who had backed Odinga's unsuccessful fifth presidential bid in 2022, after beating him in disputed polls five years earlier.
Earlier on Friday morning, Raila's body was taken to parliament, where MPs and selected dignitaries viewed it.
Raila, a giant figure on Kenya's political scene, died on Wednesday, aged 80, in India, where he had been receiving medical treatment.
Mourners have been carrying branches and palm fronds, a symbol of mourning and grief among the Luo ethnic group to which Raila belonged.
On Saturday, his body will be transported to Kisumu, his political stronghold.
