Hundreds sing freedom songs, chant on city streets in grief

Hundreds of people stormed the streets of Nairobi on Wednesday morning following the death of former Prime Minister and opposition leader, Raila Odinga.

News of his death in India spread rapidly across the country, igniting an overwhelming wave of sorrow that swept through the capital and beyond.

In Kibra, the constituency that has long been described as the heart of Raila’s political soul, residents poured into the streets in disbelief, many weeping openly.

From the Olympic grounds, groups of men, women, and children moved in solemn processions through Makini-DC Road and joined Ngong Road, waving tree branches as they sang dirges and liberation songs that have punctuated Raila’s decades of political struggle.

“Jowie! Jowie!” they cried, their voices breaking with emotion. “Baba iwewa nang’o?” “Baba, why have you left us?” “Baba shujaa! Agwambo tunakuja!”

The grief was not confined to Kibra. Across Nairobi’s Central Business District, businesses came to a halt as office workers, traders, and commuters paused to absorb the devastating news.

Boda boda riders formed long, roaring convoys, their horns blaring and flags fluttering, in tribute to the man many described as mtetezi wa wananchi (the people’s defender).

“Who will fight for us now when our children are killed? Who will speak for us when food prices rise and life becomes unbearable?” said Patrick Muasya, chairperson of the Nairobi Bodaboda Association.

“Baba always stood with us. If it were not for him, the boda boda sector would never have been recognised. He fought for us when fuel prices went up, and when he spoke, things changed.”

But as the crowds swelled, moments of tension surfaced. What began as a peaceful procession briefly turned chaotic when goons were seen breaking into shops and snatching phones and handbags from passersby, forcing police to intervene. Some traders closed their shops as a precaution.

Still, the dominant mood was one of mourning.

Along Moi Avenue, Koinange Street, and City Hall Way, mourners chanted Raila’s name, waving twigs and singing freedom songs.

“Raila is our leader. The country has lost a true fighter who cared for both the rich and the poor,” said Winnie Awino.

At Jacaranda Grounds in Embakasi, members of the Bunge la mwananchi — the grassroots civic movement that often rallied behind Raila — gathered in disbelief.

“I cannot accept the news of Raila’s passing. If indeed he is dead, allow me to believe it tomorrow,” said Amos Jakababa, struggling to hold back tears.

As the day wore on, mourners converged outside Raila’s Karen residence. Many came waving Kenyan flags and portraits of the man they affectionately called Baba.

They sang. They chanted. They wept.

In Kajiado, mourners took to the streets. “Raila Odinga died too soon when we needed him most. He fought for democracy, defended the weak, and stood up to power. The country will miss him deeply,” said businessman Simon Wainaina.

By evening, chants of “Baba shujaa! Agwambo!” still echoed across the city, a reminder that the man who defined Kenya’s opposition politics for over four decades had taken his final bow.

Raila Odinga’s political journey , from imprisonment during the Moi regime to his relentless pursuit of electoral justice and constitutional reform — earned him both admiration and controversy, but few doubted his central place in Kenya’s democratic history.

To many, especially in Kibra and other informal settlements, he was not just a politician but a father figure and the embodiment of hope,a man who refused to give up on the dream of a fairer Kenya.

By evening chants of “Baba shujaa! Agwambo!” still echoed faintly across the city,a haunting reminder that the man who defined Kenya’s opposition politics for over four decades had taken his final bow.

And as the nation prepared for the official announcement of burial plans, it was evident that Kenyan had lost more than a leader. It had lost a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and enduring faith in the power of the people.

 [Reports by Juliet Omelo, Okumu Modachi and Peterson Githaiga]