Thursday, 16th October 2025

Hon. Wario, were you not in the Chamber yesterday? Hon. Members, we have quorum to transact business. Clerk.

Hon. Members, welcome to this Sitting today, for the Special Motion. We meet this morning under a sombre cloud that hangs heavy over our nation. You will recall that I did invoke Standing Order 1 to adjourn the Morning Sitting of this House yesterday; a decision that resonated with the anxious solemnity that gripped the country as news broke of the passing on of one of Kenya’s greatest sons.

Hon. Members, as confirmed by His Excellency Dr. William Samoei Ruto, CGH, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, the nation is in mourning following the death of the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, EGH, the Second Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya. The Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga passed away yesterday, Wednesday, 15th October 2025, while undergoing treatment in India.

The late Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga was born on 7th January 1945 to the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and the late Mama Mary Juma Odinga in Maseno, Kisumu County. He was the son of Kenya’s first Vice President and from his earliest years, he was shaped by the spirit of courage, conviction and compassion that would later define his life. He was educated in Kenya and Germany, where he earned a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering; a foundation that spoke to his sharp intellect and practical vision. On returning home, he lectured at the University of Nairobi and founded the East African Spectre Limited, an enterprise that reflected his belief that Africans could build and own their future.

When multiparty democracy was finally restored, he became a central figure in shaping the nation’s modern political history. From his election as Member of Parliament for Lang’ata Constituency in 1992 to his leadership in Government and opposition, he embodied resilience and an abiding faith in the will of the people.

The Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga was a reformer whose fingerprints are on every chapter of Kenya’s democratic evolution. He played a pivotal role in the push for constitutional reform. He chaired key parliamentary committees, and stood at the forefront of the conversations that eventually birthed the Constitution of Kenya, 2010; our living testament to shared governance, freedom, and devolution.

As Minister for Roads, Public Works and Housing, he championed infrastructure projects that reshaped our country; the expansion of major highways, the planning of the LAPSSET corridor and the bold reclamation of public spaces long lost to impunity and land grabbing.

Hon. Members, as Prime Minister in the Grand Coalition Government, the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga steered national reconciliation after the 2007–2008 post-election violence, working alongside the late President Mwai Kibaki to rebuild a nation torn by grief. As a principal in the eventual Grand Coalition Government, the Right Hon. Raila Odinga and His Excellency Mwai Kibaki appointed a team comprising His Excellency William Ruto, Musalia Mudavadi, James Orengo, Prof. Sam Ongeri, Martha Karua, Sally Kosgei, the late Mutula Kilonzo and yours truly, Moses Wetangula to join the Former UN Secretary General, His Excellency the late Kofi Annan, Benjamin Mkapa (the late former President of Tanzania) and Mama Graca Machel (the former First Lady of Mozambique and South Africa), to negotiate on bringing the country back to normalcy.

His commitment to unity and justice did not end at our borders. As the African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development, he continued to serve the continent with the same energy and vision that defined his public life.

Hon. Members, even in moments of political contest, the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga often chose peace over power. This was demonstrated in the 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022 elections, when he put the nation's stability above personal ambition, demonstrating, time and again, that leadership is not only about winning, but also about holding a nation together.

He was a man of the people, known to millions simply as Agwambo, Baba, Jakom, Tinga, and many other acronyms, just to name but a few. He walked with the mighty and the humble alike. He inspired courage, provoked thought, and carried within him the stubborn hope that Kenya could always be better than her past.

As we remember this towering freedom fighter, patriot, and statesman, we also remember the tenderness behind the fire, the laughter behind the struggle, and the humanity behind the politics. His was a life that reminded us that conviction and compassion can walk hand in hand. I could go on and on, for there is so much that can be said about this great statesman, but I opt to pause at this moment.

Therefore, Hon. Members, on behalf of the National Assembly, the Parliamentary Service Commission, and on my own behalf, I extend our deepest condolences to the family of the late Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, specifically Mama Ida and the children, Rosemary, Junior, and Winnie, and to our colleagues Senator (Dr) Oburu Oginga and Hon. Ruth Odinga Busia, to his friends, and to all Kenyans who mourn this father of the nation.

Hon. Members wishing to pay their respects may do so during the course of the day. In the meantime, you approved an Exceptional Motion co-sponsored by the Leaders of the Majority and Minority parties to enable this House to record its tributes to our departed former Prime Minister. In line with the Presidential Proclamation that the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga be accorded a State Funeral, necessary arrangements have been put in place to ensure that this will be done in a manner befitting his stature. As a matter of fact, His Excellency the President, in consultation with the family, has set up a Planning Committee headed by His Excellency the Deputy President and Senator (Dr) Oburu Oginga to coordinate all necessary arrangements. The Committee will keep the country updated as appropriate.

Later in the day, the body, which has already arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), will be brought to Parliament to lie in state from noon until 5.00 p.m. During that period, members of the public, who are already queuing in their thousands out there, will be milling through the precincts of Parliament to pay their respects. The House will continue with its sittings for Members to eulogise the fallen leader, but Members will be at liberty to step out from time to time to pay their respects and view the body before returning to continue with the debate. His Excellency the President will arrive at Parliament around midday to join a few of us in receiving the body. The House will proceed until we break for lunch. We will resume at 2.30 p.m., and debate will continue until midnight, or until the last Member wishing to speak has done so, whichever comes earlier.

We will be advising you in the course of the day as we go along. We shall have many visitors within Parliament. Be good hosts. There will be Cabinet Secretaries, military and service commanders, and diplomats who will come to pay their respects. Let us, as always, be good hosts.

Equally important, there will be a State Funeral tomorrow at the Nyayo National Stadium. I have instructed the Clerk and the parliamentary protocol teams to ensure that there is adequate space for Members of Parliament at the Stadium, so that you may be part and parcel of the National Mourning Team. Thereafter, the body will be taken to Kisumu. About 60 Members have requested assistance to fly to Kisumu. I have instructed the Clerk to do so. Members who want to do so should record their names with the Office of the Clerk. You will be facilitated to attend the funeral on Sunday and be brought back to Nairobi. Those preferring to travel back on their own are free to do so, so that we can be part of this process.

If you were not close to the late Hon. Raila, he was a man who begrudged nobody. He stood head and shoulders above the clouds of politics. He interacted freely with everyone. Yours truly here, and those of you who love football, always sat together with Hon. Raila watching Arsenal, which was our team, which he loved so much. When Arsenal was playing, he would speak to no one until the match was over. He would pay military attention to the game. He would count all the players even the substitutes. Arsenal was in his blood, just as it is in mine. I am told that Hon. Jack Wamboka also has Arsenal in his blood. We have lost a great man. We have lost a great statesman.

Once I finish my remarks, I will invite Hon. Owen Baya to move the Motion. I am told that Hon. Gisairo will second the Motion. There should be no theatrics or sideshows. We are honouring a great man. Let us not use this moment to settle unhelpful or irrelevant political scores. Let us use it to honour a man who fought viciously like a buffalo, and immediately made peace like an antelope with all the people he fought with. Who ever imagined that the Rt. Hon. Raila would work with President Moi, who detained him for nine years? He did. Who ever imagined that he would serve as Prime Minister under President Kibaki after the vicious 2007 political contest? He did. Who ever imagined that he would have a “handshake” agreement with President Uhuru Kenyatta? He did. Who ever imagined that he would engage with President William Ruto after the bruising 2022 election? He did. He is an example for all of us to emulate. Political contests are not enmity. They should not divide our country. They are simply opportunities for wananchi to decide who among us should lead. At the end of it all, the winner should never exalt himself or herself, and the loser should never feel vanquished. We all come back together. As Raila always reminded us, we have no spare country. We have only one Kenya, and each of us bears a patriotic duty to contribute to its wellbeing.

You would find Hon. Raila in Burma Market taking porridge with ordinary Kenyans, and at the Hilton eating caviar with the mighty. That was the kind of great man he was. I encourage our young politicians to emulate this spirit, so that our country can go places. Emulate his example and our country will spring from a developing nation to a developed one. The ball is in our court. Rome was not built in a day, but the Romans were there to build it. Kenya cannot be built in a day, but Kenyans are here to build it. You have been given the rare privilege, at this time in our history, to be the leaders of our country. Let us lead from the front, set good examples and emulate the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga. In your heart, there should be no space for malice, hatred, vitriol or cheap and unhelpful politics. There should only be space for Kenya.

(Applause)

Hon. Members, take the nearest seats. Hon. Osoro, you are missing in action.

As I was saying, let us be each other’s keeper. Let us love one another. Let us love our people. Bob Marley once said, “Know people, feel people, love people.” That is what makes a society. Know people, feel people, love people. That was the great Bob Marley and that is the Kenya we want.

As I conclude, Hon. Members, in honour of his selfless service and immense contribution to the Republic, I once again request that we all rise and observe a moment of silence in memory of the late Raila Amolo Odinga, the enigma of Kenyan politics, a visionary leader and a true son of our land. I believe Chinua Achebe had people like Raila in mind when he said, “A wise man standing on the ground will see farther than an idiot standing on top of a tree.” Indeed, he saw farther than many people.

Odinga!

Thank you. I now give the following directions, Hon. Members. The mover of this Motion will have 10 minutes, the seconder will have 10 minutes and when the Party leaders come, they will each have 20 minutes. Every Hon. Member will have five minutes to speak. You may use all five minutes or less. At the end of the day, every Member will have an opportunity to contribute because an entire day has been slated for this.

Hon. Wario, Member for Bura, is it?

Member for Garsen, we agreed on a dress code for today, did we not? You are the odd one out—the stranger in Parliament today.

Call the next Order.

Hon. Owen Baya, you have 10 minutes to move the Motion.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion:

THAT, following the Presidential Proclamation issued on 15th October 2025 regarding the passing on of the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, EGH, the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya, and pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 259D (1) , the tributes of this House be recorded in honour of the late former Prime Minister’s contribution to this House, his selfless service to the Republic and the continent of Africa, and his role in promoting democracy, peace, and stability in Kenya and the region. Hon. Speaker, on my own behalf, and on behalf of my family, the people of Kilifi North Constituency and Members of this House, I convey our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga following his demise.

In mourning the great Raila Odinga, I wish to paraphrase the words of John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States, who said: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” Raila Odinga’s actions

inspired this nation to do more, to be more, to learn more and to become more. The late Raila Amolo Odinga was a leader for all Kenyans, even those who did not believe in him. He was a warrior for Kenya. He was our Mandela.

Hon. Speaker, you may recall that when Nelson Mandela was released from prison, he shook hands with his jailers and later served in the same government with them. It was in that same spirit that Raila Odinga faced every political contest. Each time there was a fierce election, those who had ridiculed or spoken harshly about him would later find him willing to sit down with them and steer this country to the next level. That was the man—Raila Amolo Odinga. He personified liberation, justice and the rule of law, epitomised by the coming into force of the new Constitution. He believed deeply in constitutionalism and that this country must be governed on those principles.

In all his warrior qualities, Raila remained charismatic, approachable, inclusive, mortal and a devoted family man. If you ever had a chat with Raila Odinga, you would find that his family was never far from his talk. He often said he was who he was because his family stood by him. Raila Odinga lived with a higher purpose. He picked many people here from nowhere and made leaders out of them. Many Members seated in this House today, and even some who have since left, owe their political journeys to Raila Amolo Odinga. That is something we cannot take away from him.

Yours truly was picked by Raila Odinga from a university lecture room. I knew nothing about politics and did not even aspire to be a politician. However, when I met him, he encouraged me. I feared running for any political post, but he persuaded me. Today, I am a leader my people can depend on because Raila Amolo Odinga shaped me into who I am. Many of us seated in this hallowed Chamber today remember his debates, sharp contributions, and fierce contests in this House, not for personal gain but for the good of the nation. His dream was to make Kenya a great nation. As he lies in state today, we mourn a great man, a man whose spirit and life story describes what Kenya is. The upheavals this country has gone through and the progress that we have made as a country can only be described in one statement: we owe it to Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga.

Finally, I would like to mourn Hon. Raila Odinga using the words of Elton John in his song, Goodbye England Rose.

Goodbye Kenyan Rose, may you ever glow in our hearts. You were the grace that blessed where lives were torn apart. You called out to our country and you whispered to those in pain. Now you belong to heaven, and the stars spell out your name. And it seems to me you lived your life like a candle in the wind Never fading with the sunset when the rain set in And your footsteps will always fall here, along Kenya's greenest hills Your candles burned out long before your legend ever will. Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I ask Hon. Gisairo to second.

Hon. Gisairo.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Today we sit here mourning the loss of the father of the second liberation. A man who fought for the Constitution and the freedoms that we have and enjoy today. The freedom of speech and freedom of expression that we have today carry the name of the Rt Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga.

Raila Amolo Odinga was a man of courage, a man who spoke for what he believed, who walked the talk and ensured that he gave the rest of the country confidence that there is a better Kenya that is coming. He was a man who spoke without speaking and led without uttering a word. He was truly an enigma.

He always re-emerged when everyone thought that he was down, when everyone thought that he had been vanquished, Baba had a way of coming back.

Have you read a poem by Art Gurfunkel called the Sound of Silence?

Not yet, Hon. Speaker. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga believed in constitutionalism and doing what is right. He believed in fairness. When I became elected as a Member of Parliament and I managed to construct a private office in my constituency, I looked for someone to commission it. The Rt Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga agreed and honoured me to commission it. He came with Mama Ida. I learnt a lot about him on that day. He is a man who had the history of this country at his fingertips. As I sat with him in his car, as we drove from where he landed in Mochenwa in Kitutu Masaba to Keroka Town Keumbu to Kisii Town, people came just to have a look at a man who had not even invited them. That told me his story why everybody was touched by him. People loved him. Today, this country has lost a person millions of Kenyans believed in. A person who spoke, who was their voice and who fought for them when they felt like they had lost hope.

I do not want to speak much because it was a shock to all of us yesterday when we got the news that Baba was no more. It left most of us wondering: what is next? Where next? However, we are sure that the many sons and daughters he raised politically will carry on the great deeds, the fighting spirit and the vision he had for this country.

On behalf of my family, the people of Kitutu Masaba, and myself, I convey our message of condolences to the Odinga family, Orange Democratic Party family and Kenyans as a whole for losing a man who believed in us and in this country. As Baba rests, those of us who remain should carry forth his spirit of fighting for equality, transparency, and a dream of a better Kenya for us, our children and the generations to come.

Hon. Speaker, I thank you. I second.

Before I give the next speaker a chance, allow me to go back to Orders No.5 and 6. They are urgent. Is Hon. Chepkonga here? Hon. Gichimu to lay an urgent Paper on the Table and give Notice of Motion. Call out Order No. 5

Hon. Gichimu

Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Chairman Committee on Delegated Legislation, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table:

Next Order, No. 6.

Hon. Gichimu.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion:

THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Committee on Delegated Legislation on its consideration of 10 regulations relating to the petroleum sector laid on the table of the house on the Thursday, 16th October 2025 and pursuant to the provisions of Section 18 of the Statutory Instruments Acts, CAP 2A announced in entirety the following regulations:

Thank you. We now go back to the Motion. Hon. Harold Kipchumba. Hon. Kipchumba, hold on. Yes, Hon. Kahangara. Give him the microphone.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I am just raising a proposal at the beginning of the debate.

Yes.

Considering what we are seeing at JKIA and the expected number of people who will come to view the remains of Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, I propose that we limit the number of minutes given to Members to debate to two minutes so that as many Members as possible eulogise in the Morning Session. In the afternoon we may not be able to do so.

Hon. Kipchumba. Hon. Members, do you want to adjust the time allocated?

Yes! No!

Order, Hon. Members! You passed a Motion to sit up to midnight. I know that there is an anxious but peaceful crowd out there wanting to see the body of the Prime Minister. The body is not here yet. The body will be here by noon. Those of you who want to speak for one minute, do so. Those of you who want to speak for two minutes, do so.

Hon. Kipchumba.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I stand to pay tribute to my friend and leader. I first met Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga…

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.

Yes, Member for Kabuchai.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I rise on Standing Order No. 83 to know if it is in order for a ranking Member to defy the Speaker's direction that was given yesterday. Why is Hon. Pkosing dressed like that and Hon. Wario has just left the Chamber to go and be well-dressed?

Thank you. Hon. Pkosing, the point of order is legitimate. Search your mind and do the right thing. You do not have to answer.

Go on, Hon. Kipchumba.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I stand to pay tribute to a friend…

What is it, Hon. Pkosing.

Hon. Speaker, I heard your directive very clearly. However, people must appreciate that I come from a culture and a community. I supported Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga in the last election. Where I come from, when a king dies, you do not dress in black, you dress in light colours to appreciate that person. Let me say this…

Order, Hon. Pkosing! Take your seat. To begin with, I know the anthropology of every community in Kenya. What you are saying is not correct.

Go on, Hon. Kipchumba.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I stand to pay tribute to my friend and leader, Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. He is a man I first met in the corridors of cells in 1986 while fighting for democracy. I was picked as a suspect of the February Eighteenth Revolutionary Army (FERA) then. When we met, he looked at me and wondered how a police officer could handcuff a person on crutches. We became friends. It is hard to put in words what Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga meant to me, not just as a leader but as a friend. I saw in him strength that is silent, patience that does not waver, and a belief in people that never fades even in times that are rough.

The Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga carried the weight of Kenya on his shoulders more times than anyone should have done and yet he still walked with hope, laughed, listened, and dreamt of Kenya that lives up to the promise of being a great nation. That kind of faith is rare. To me,

he has been more than a political figure. He was a teacher of history, democracy, good governance, and social justice in this country.

He has always provided me with a shoulder to lean on and inspired resilience in me to overcome extremely challenging occasions. He was a mirror for courage and a role model for integrity and assurance that patriotism is not a slogan but a way of life. Hon. Raila’s journey inspires us to keep pushing, believing and never trade truth for convenience. Thank you, Hon. Raila, for showing us what leadership looks like when it is grounded in love for the people and country. The late Rt. Hon. Raila, whom I call Baba, showed great love to persons with disabilities. He constantly nurtured them politically and helped them climb to their highest heights both in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party and the Houses of Parliament.

At a personal level, my family and I wish to record our most sincere appreciation for his assistance to my son and I at very difficult moments in our lives when we needed medical attention both inside and outside Kenya. After a fatal road accident involving my son and I in 2013, he mobilised and paid the top neurosurgeons in the country to manage my son. Even when my nomination to the Senate was nullified, he stood by us; both morally and financially to date.

Member for Sirisia.

This happened from 2013 to the time of my current nomination at the National Assembly. He utterly supported and facilitated it, notwithstanding the fact that I come from a community that does not significantly support ODM.

Lastly, …

Give him 30 seconds to wind up.

Let me end by quoting the last message by the late Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga to me last Sunday, 12th October 2025, at 9.13 a.m. He wrote: Thank you, my brother for standing with the Party in Baringo.

I will always cherish this person’s affection and recognition. Fare thee well, my friend, Rt. Hon. Baba.

Thank you. Member for Bumula, Hon. Wamboka.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. It is indeed difficult to mourn a friend and father of the nation. When my friend, Mr. Wafula Buke, called me yesterday morning on the passing on of Hon. Raila Odinga, I did not believe it. It looked like a normal joke or April Fools’ Day. It looked like something would happen and Hon. Raila Odinga would come back. It is very difficult. We mourn a very courageous man. I admired his courage since I was a young boy.

He did many things for this country in very difficult times. We remember him for liberating this country when no one could dare speak against the Government. That is why we enjoy this peace that we have today democratically.

I remember Hon. Raila's courage. After elections, we had maandamano. One day before we set out for the streets, we were in a room with the other party leaders deciding which routes to use. I remember one party leader said that the outside was bad and they would kill us. It looked like all the other leaders were not ready to go that route. Hon. Raila Odinga told them they would find him there. He told them: Let me die if I have to die for this country. He was a courageous man.

During campaigns, Hon. Raila Odinga came to campaign for me in Bumula Constituency. At that time, I was vying with my party, Democratic Action Party, Kenya (DAP- K) . There was an ODM candidate in my constituency. Hon. Raila Odinga instructed Hon. Junet

Mohamed to pull down the ODM candidature in my favour. I know it has not been easy for many people to get any money from Hon. Raila Odinga but he supported my campaign with Ksh3.5 million. I am the Chairman of Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education in this House because of Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga.

I know I am a first time Member of Parliament; I am not a ranking Member. I may not be the best Member, but Hon. Raila Odinga saw it important and fit that I sit and chair the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education. It is very difficult to mourn such a man.

During the impeachment Motion I sponsored against the Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Mithika Linturi, it was not very easy being the first one post Constitution 2010. It was the first of its kind. I did not know where to start and where to head. Hon. Raila Odinga gave me a lot of courage. He told me that was my first cap. He had so many caps. He gave me lawyers to support me during the impeachment. I believe Hon. Raila Odinga is dead, but what he stood for….

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.

Yes, Hon. Odanga, what is the point of order?

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I want to remind my son and the Member for Bumula that his impeachment Motion was not the first one post Constitution 2010. I sponsored one for the removal of Cabinet Secretary, Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Yes.

Hon. Speaker, add me one minute.

Give him 30 seconds to wind up.

Hon. Speaker, it is very difficult to mourn Hon. Raila Odinga. He has left very many orphans, and I am one of them. I feel it in my heart. He is gone, but we will not let him down. Fare thee well.

Thank you.

Hon. Murugara George.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. Yesterday was a dark day. A dark cloud fell over our country. By the time it started fading away, the sad news was broken to us that the Former Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, was no more and that he had rested. The country was plunged into mourning led by His Excellency the President, Dr. William Samoei Ruto, and everyone. Even as we convey these messages this morning, the entire country is actually mourning.

The Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga is about to be brought into this House so that he can lay in state, and we pay his last respect. Before we do that, allow me— on my behalf, my family and the great people of Tharaka Constituency, Tharaka-Nithi County— to convey my deepest and most sincere condolences to the family of the late Rt. Hon. Amolo Raila Odinga, his wife, Ida; his two daughters, Rosemary and Winnie; his son, Raila Junior; the patriarch of the family, Dr Oburu Oginga; and the sister who is also our colleague here, Hon. Ruth Odinga. Indeed, we will remember the good days of the late Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga with nostalgia because of what he has done for this country up to the last day when he rested in peace.

Hon. Speaker, allow me to draw some analogies between the father and the son. We all know that the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga was the son of the doyen of opposition politics in the country, the late Hon. Adonija Oginga Odinga, whom we reverently referred to as Jaramogi. Indeed, it is extremely proud for one to be like his father. Both were selfless persons who would sacrifice everything for the sake of the country, Kenya. For example, the senior Jaramogi declared publicly, without blinking an eye to the white man, that there would be no independence to this country without Jomo Kenyatta. Purely selfless when he knew for sure that he would have taken the reins of power to rule the country in the absence of Jomo Kenyatta.

On the same shoe, the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, in 2002, declared Hon. Kibaki tosha, when he knew for sure he would have contested and possibly won the presidential election. This is what is known as selflessness par excellence. Similarly, even the tribulations, the travails they went through were similar ― detained purely because they were advocating for good governance in the country.

With those remarks, it is important to say that like father, like son. The Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga strode the country, East Africa, the continent of Africa and the world like a colossus, advocating for good governance, democracy, human rights and justice. We will remember him as the doyen of devolution and democracy in Kenya.

Allow me to go back to your adage. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga is dead today, but long live Raila Amolo Odinga, Tinga, Baba and all the acronyms we have reverently given to the former Prime Minister.

Hon. Cynthia Muge.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for the opportunity not to just eulogise the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, but to also acknowledge his immense contribution to this country in democracy, the fight for unity and freedom.

The late Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga stood for many things, and I am a beneficiary of some of the things that he stood for in the Constitution of Kenya and the issues of devolution. I was first elected in the County Assembly of Nandi County, which is a creation of the late Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, and which he stood for.

We mourn today a man whose immense contribution to the development of this country cannot be wished away. I want to remember him in his journey that he demonstrated many times that leadership is not about privilege, but service. I must remember him for inspiring and giving hope to the young people to fight for a freer nation and a better Kenya.

Hon. Speaker, we reflect on his immense contribution not only to honour this man, but to also ensure that we continue to nurture democracy and unity of this country. May his soul rest in peace and may his family, the spouse Mama Ida, the children, and the people that he made, be comforted. The late Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga made hundreds of politicians in this country and held their hands through the political terrain and we appreciate him for the immense contribution. On behalf of the people of Nandi, we say fare thee well, Raila Amolo Odinga. Your spirit will continue living on in the generations that you taught and mentored in this country, Kenya.

May his soul rest in peace.

Member for Westlands.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Let me take this opportunity also to eulogise and pay tribute to my great political mentor, the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga.

In 2007, when Hon. Raila Odinga was running for the presidency, he nominated me as one of his proposers. I was not known to him very much, but he picked me and gave me an opportunity to be among the few people who proposed him to be the president of Kenya. Later on, he nominated me to Nairobi City Council and while doing so, he assured me that he wanted me to be the mayor of Nairobi City Council, and the rest is history. That is how he nurtured my political career and ever since, I have walked, listened and learned a lot from him. He is a selfless man. He loved this nation. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga could dine with the lowest and the mighty, as you mentioned in your speech earlier. You could find him in Burma Market eating nyama choma, in Shauri Moyo sitting on a bench drinking whisky with a very common mwananchi and in Serena Hotel or any other place. He was a man who could attract, and he attracted many people.

Hon. Speaker, in the 1997 General Elections, I know there were many Kenyans who dismissed him, but in 2002, when he pronounced Kibaki tosha, as a selfless man, he sacrificed

his ambition and supported Hon. Mwai Kibaki, even after Kibaki was involved in an accident and he was away from the campaigns. Hon. Raila took up the mantle and championed the campaign of Hon. Mwai Kibaki and he was elected as the 4th president of this country.

I believe that Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga won the presidential elections of 2007 and it was stolen from him, but he sacrificed his ambition, stepped back and worked with Hon. Mwai Kibaki. In the presidential elections of 2013, 2017, and 2022, the same thing happened. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga put this nation before anything else. I know there is nobody who can sacrifice such opportunities. Even for the people he was sitting with, many of them could not believe in what he said. He made very difficult decisions and sometimes very unpopular ones. When he made the decision to work with President Ruto, everybody dismissed him and said he was a greedy, but look at what he did. He realised the country was going in the wrong direction and he wanted to get Kenya back on track.

Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga was not just another person; he was a statesman, and a pan- Africanist. If you look at the Constitution today, devolution was his dream and he kept on making sure that devolution is perfected by advocating for increment of money allocated to the devolved governments. Recently, he was pushing that the National Government - Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) be given to the county governments. I think it was uncomfortable with many people, but he did not mince his words. He was very clear about what he wanted. On behalf of my family and that of the people of Westlands, I pay tribute to the great son of Kenya who has passed on. May his soul rest in peace. May he join the great men who have gone before us, including Masinde Muliro, Oginga Odinga, Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki and Michael Wamalwa.

Hon. Speaker, we know that Kenya will be at par with big nations because of the sacrifices that Raila Amolo Odinga made.

Hon. Bady Twalib.

Ahsante, Mhe. Spika kwa kunipa fursa ili niweze kutuma rambirambi zangu kufuatia kifo cha Mhe. Raila Amolo Odinga. Kwa niaba yangu, familia yangu na watu wa Eneo Bunge la Jomvu, natoa rambirambi kwa familia yake.

Nilimfahamu Mhe. Raila Amolo Odinga mwaka 2007 nilipochaguliwa kuwa Diwani wa Jomvu Kuu Ward kupitia chama cha ODM. Nilitambulishwa kwake na Mbunge wangu Mhe. Ramadhan Seif Kajembe. Leo, tumeondokewa na mgogo wa kisiasa. Tumeondokewa na Baba. Tumeondokewa na mtu ambaye alijitolea katika kuhudumia Serikali ya Kenya. Ninapomuomboleza Mhe. Raila, pia nawaomboleza vijana wangu watatu waliokufa maji kwenye Bahari hivi juzi: Caleb Otieno, miaka 21; Stephene Karembo, miaka 23; na Thomas Wanyongi, miaka 24. Huu mwezi wa kumi umekuwa mgumu sana kwangu. Baada ya kuwapoteza hawa watu watatu, jana, ghafla, tukapokea habari kuwa Mhe. Raila Amolo Odinga ametuacha.

Takibran miezi mitatu iliyopita, Mhe. Raila Amolo Odinga alianzisha Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) Centre kwa mwaliko wa gavana wetu. Tutamkumbuka Mhe. Raila kwa mengi. Kwa mfano, ugatuzi unafanya kazi kwa dhamana yake. Watu wana uhuru wa kuongea bila hofu kwa dhamana ya Mhe. Raila Odinga. Pia ameweka ndoto za watu wengi katika muonekano na mwelekeo wa kwenda mbele.

Nilichaguliwa kama Diwani mwaka wa 2007. Hali kadhalika, nikachaguliwa Mbunge miaka ya 2013, 2017 na 2022. Katika hivi vipindi vyote, role model wangu alikuwa Raila Amolo Odinga. Leo katika maisha ya uongozi, tunajaribu kumuiga. Ina maana kuwa Mhe. Raila Amolo Odinga alikuwa mpenzi wa wengi. Nikija hapa leo, kuna vijana Joseph Oluoch na Kibonge kutoka Bangladesh walioniambia kuwa japo nitapata nafasi, nitoe rambirambi zao kwa kuwataja.

Leo ni siku ya huzuni. Narudia kusema kuwa kwa niaba yangu, ya familia yangu na Eneo Bunge langu la Jomvu, natoa rambirambi kwa familia ya Mhe. Raila Amolo Odinga na chama chetu cha ODM. Kwa familia, Mungu atawapa subra. Kazi ya Mungu haina makosa.

Ahsante Mhe. Spika. Mungu ambariki Mhe. Raila Amollo Odinga.

Hon. Rahim.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I would like to pay tribute to Hon. Raila. I met him 20 years ago in Meru County during the Orange and Banana Referendum Campaign. Hon. Speaker, I do not know if you were part of the delegation on that day. I saw them go into the Pig and Whistle Hotel. When they came out, there was a hailstorm. My petrol station was opposite the venue of the rally. I remember Hon. Raila’s speech on that day. Because of the heavy hailstorm, he said: “Nyinyi Wameru mtalia nikiwa Rais.” That was my first encounter with teargas in my life. That is also when my political career started. After that, he went to Makutano and later to Maua. That was then.

When I joined politics, we were on opposite sides; he was on the orange side while I was on the Banana side. They beat us hands down in the 2005 Referendum. We got back again with Hon. Raila in the Referendum leading to the 2010 Constitution. This time, we were on the same side. We also worked together during the launch of Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) . We failed but stayed together. Again, I was on his side during the 2022 General Elections campaign. Hon. Raila is an enigma. He is Baba. He is everything! I believe to get somebody like him will take a long time. I do not think we will ever get anybody who has gone to detention, suffered for this country and sacrificed himself the way Hon. Raila Odinga has.

Had Hon. Raila not come through to form the Broad-Based Government, we would have gone the Madagascar or Nepal way. Therefore, he did a big favour to this country. The Gen Zs should not think that he betrayed them. They should realise that he made sure that we are safe. We owe the progress made in our country to Hon. Raila Odinga. We need to give him a befitting send-off. God bless him. Revelations14:13 says: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, they rest from their labours for their deeds will follow them. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Members, I request you to avoid coming to talk to me. Sitaki pressure. I do not want pressure from Members. I will follow the list that is here. I will follow what Hon. Speaker was doing. I request Members to avoid approaching the Chair. You know what I always do. I will do exactly that now. If you approach me, you will probably reduce your chances of getting the opportunity to contribute. Let us just follow the list as is.

The next Member on the list right now is Hon. Rindikiri Mugambi.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for that observation. On behalf of the great people of Buuri, I rise to eulogise a great man of this Republic, the late Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. I met the him in 2007, through his brother, Dr Oburu, who is my great friend. I was a chief guest at Bondo DEB Primary School. My first encounter with this great man gave me an impression of a caring man. I made an observation that Raila’s outside appearance was not a reflection of his heart. The inside of Raila is a very soft, caring and considerate person. He does not entertain conflict and is always on the path of looking for solutions, particularly for this country.

I rise to console the family headed by my great friend, Dr Oburu, Mama Ida, the children, and the entire fraternity of the Odinga family. It is through Dr Oburu and Amolo Odinga that I met our colleague, Ruth Odinga, who is a Member of this Parliament. In as much as we say anything, this man has died without being given the opportunity by Kenyans to serve this nation at the greatest level as a president. But what he has done and stood for is something that we all need to emulate.

We mourn this man whose soul has already departed, but his legacy will remain forever. I ask my colleagues, other people in the political leadership, and all the parties, that if we have a case study of a state’s man, it is carried by none other than His Excellency, the former Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya, Amolo Odinga.

I thank you.

Member of Bondo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. As the nation and the world mourn the great Raila Odinga, let it be understood that he is my constituent by local appraisal. He is my mentor. He was my first employer so the kind of experience I have had with Raila spans beyond 30 years; to be exact, 34 years. We have been with him almost at a very personal kind of arrangement and relationship over the years.

Hon. Raila did not just get to Parliament the way many of us do. It was a great effort by a small group of us. At that time, Raila was not in the country. He was in exile. He did not campaign. If at all there is any person who has ever got into this Parliament without campaigning, it is Raila Amolo Odinga. He did that by virtue of the work that we are doing. I am the one who went out to meet a small group of not more than 10 members that included Ida, Joe Ager, Okiri Pacho as the Chair, Shem Akuba, and William Okelo. We did that, and Raila got into parliament in 1992 without stepping into the constituency in the name of doing a rally. Actually, he did not know many people. He did not even know where the polling stations were so that was our effort.

Come 1995, when there were issues in the Ford Kenya Party, Raila crossed the floor. He left his party and joined the New Democratic Party (NDP) and because of that, he had to go for a by-election. Raila could not move to the constituency the way he had wanted. At that time, I had returned to the university for my master’s degree. He literally came to look for us. That is when Raila got back to Parliament through the by-election in 1995.

One thing I am sure that Members may not know about Raila is that he did not initiate and plan a lot of actions and decisions he implemented but he had exceptional courage once convinced.

Order, Members. I think it is fair to allow the Member of Parliament for Bondo, who is also Raila Odinga's Member of Parliament, to be listened to. This is a very solemn moment. It is not a moment where someone will be contributing, and we are not all giving a chance to, or doing whatever we are doing.

Go ahead.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. What I was trying to say is that a lot of things that we might have seen Raila do, many times, he was neither the planner nor the initiator. But the manner in which he was convinced in taking up these activities, by the end of the day, he owned them. And he did them with a lot of courage.

The other thing that Members may not know is that Raila was a person who did a lot of multitasking. In fact, if you are on an appointment as well as talking to him on the phone, your appointment will collapse. He is one person who, when he was talking to three, four, five people, definitely, that was a thing that would pass. He used to multitask a lot. He was also

very unique in terms of crisis management. In fact, many times, Raila managed the crises as though he was planning to manage them.

Finally, as a great sportsman, he stood by the principle that once you are in a game, you will either lose or win. That is exactly what he stood for all along. When he got into the political game, when there was a loss, he recognised that. That is exactly why he did not believe so much in the idea of winner takes it all. After the elections, he had wanted the nation to get back on its feet and the winning government to serve everybody.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Well said. Next is the Member of Aldai.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I stand to eulogise a great man, Baba Raila Amolo Odinga. My sympathies go to the family, Mama Ida, the family, the Orange Democratic Republic (ODM) , the broad-based government and the people of Kenya. We have lost a great man, a hero, and a person who today we celebrate. We are happy about democracy because he is the father of democracy. We all remember right from the 1982 coup attempt, all the way to 1992, and the birth of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. Raila Amolo Odinga fought hard for the democracy of this country, and the freedom that we today enjoy in this country.

Many young people today talk about and are happy to participate in the democracy of this country. They forget that the person who brought this democracy is Baba Raila Amolo Odinga. We want to say thank you for what he did. He did a great job. When the history of Kenya is written, his name will forever appear in history as the person who fought for this country. People of Aldai Constituency say pole to the family as we mourn the death of Baba Raila Amolo Odinga. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Goodbye Baba.

Thank you.

Thank you. So that you know, the next Members to speak are as per the board. Next is Member for Nambale, followed by the Member for Dagoretti South, then the Member for Butula. Those three in that order. Member for Nambale.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to pay my tribute to Baba Raila Amolo Odinga. As it has been said, Raila is the true father of democracy in this nation. Many people have said that, indeed, sometimes in the year 1994, when Raila disagreed with the ideologies of the Ford Kenya Party, he moved from his Party to the NDP. He did the right thing to surrender his seat and go back for a by-election. This is a decision very few politicians would make. He is the only one since that time who has made this particular decision; to obey the institutions and the democratic space in our nation.

As many will recall, Raila has been a pillar of politics in this country. Whenever things were not progressing correctly, Raila would always step down from his position and adopt the stance that benefited the greater nation. Coming from Busia County, Raila was truly a father figure for our great County of Busia. Whenever we met, he often fondly remembered how he wished development had reached Busia County. He would mention issues he believed needed to be addressed and actions that should be taken so the people of Busia could benefit from good governance.

It has always been said that he was indeed a beacon of courage. We know that very few leaders in this nation would speak their mind the way the Right Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga used to. He would always say the right thing, whether he was attacking the government or his fellow opposition leaders. As a nation, we have lost.

On behalf of the people of Nambale and the great people of our nation, I convey my condolences to the family of the Right Hon. Amolo Odinga.

Member for Dagoretti South.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, how do you even start to eulogise a man of the stature of the Right Hon. Eng. (Dr) Raila Amolo Odinga? A man who, he himself, was a force of nature. A man who moved the crowds with a charisma unimaginable. A man who dedicated his entire life to his country. A patriot on whom you could place many charges, but never the charge of unpatriotism. This man that we eulogise today must be known as the father of opposition in this country taking over from his dad, who was his blood father and who was also known as the doyen of opposition.

I stand here on behalf of my family and the people of Dagoretti South Constituency to pass my condolences to the family of this great Kenyan because the world has lost an icon. Africa has lost an enigma. Kenya has lost a leader.

To me, personally, I have lost a political father. I met the late former Prime Minister as a very young man when he used to be a youth leader within Agip House, campaigning for his father when the original FORD was formed. When Raila was a young man, that is when I met him. Later on, I went on to be a youth leader in his party. I was the first National President of the ODM Youth League.

When I met Raila, he was at his prime; that Raila who would capture people just with his greetings. The man who would walk into rallies, lift one hand, and say, Haiyaaa! Haiyaaa! The world would go silent, and he would lay out the history of the country to the people. When he had captured the attention of the crowds, he would end it on a high note, Kitendawili! Kitendawili! (Inaudible) . This is the gentleman whom I eulogise. A man who picked me up when I was trying my skills in politics as a young man, took me to Dagoretti, introduced me to the people of Dagoretti, and delivered an election for me in an election that he himself also won. Raila Odinga won the election of 2007. But try as we did; try as we did to swear him in, this gentleman told us that even as we approached the election of 2007, we would have to be cautious to ensure that we left a country for the future.

I want to pass my condolences to my colleague, Hon. Ruth Odinga, our colleague in the Senate, the youth leader, the Gen Z himself, Sen. (Dr) Oburu Odinga, to the children, Rosemary, Winnie, Junior, and posthumously, my very good friend, Fidel Odinga. Here, we want to thank this family for sharing such a consummate patriot with Kenyans. When Kenya called him Baba, we meant it, but we know that he was the blood father of these children who had given up their father and committed him to the service of the nation. Today, we mourn a great Kenyan.

As I said, the world mourns a great icon. Kenya mourns an enigma, and so does Africa. But for me, I want to eulogise a great patriot who also happened to be my political father. Raila Odinga is dead. Long live Baba. Haiyaa! Haiyaa! Haiyaa! Kitendawili!

Tegaa!

Mimi nasema mambo yote iko sawa. Hata kama Raila ameondoka, Rais Baba ataishi milele. Iko sawa.

Thank you. Member for Butula.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I stand here on behalf of my family, my great people of Butula, and the entire ODM fraternity to eulogise a great leader of this nation. The late Raila was a father, a leader, and he guided some of us very well.

I first got into contact with the late Raila when he was the Minister for Roads and Public Works. At that time, I was in the Treasury, and he used to call me to give him certain information that he needed to enable him to carry out his work as a minister in the ministry. Our relationship went on, and when I reached my retirement, Hon. Raila called me to his office and asked me if I could join the ODM party. So, in my retirement, I joined the ODM party through the advice of the late Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga.

Raila helped us, the people of Butula, to get development. Any project that has been successful in my constituency bears Raila’s hand, particularly when we were to get a road tarmacked. At the time he was the Minister for Transport, he confirmed to me that he would make sure our road was tarmacked. By then, I was still in office. From there, he was very close asking for anything that we wanted in Butula and for sure, he helped us a lot to get development not only in Butula, but also in the entire Busia County.

The late Raila will be remembered dearly by the people of Butula and the people of Busia. Anytime there was an arrangement for Hon. Raila to come to Busia, people came out in big numbers. Everybody wanted to be close to him. He would come, address people, and everybody was happy with his guidance and advice. He always told people to be peaceful and work hard.

So, he made us work hard for the benefit of our people of Butula. Hon. Speaker, we eulogise a great leader, an icon in African politics and a person who is loved all over the country. He did much for this country and his name will not be erased in any records of this country. We will keep remembering him. It will be difficult to erase the name of Raila from our people. I want to send my condolences to the family. Particularly the wife Mama Ida, the children and the brother Hon. (Dr) Oburu Odinga, who is also my great friend and the entire ODM fraternity. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Thank you. Member for Matuga.

Ahsante Mhe. Naibu Spika wa Muda kwa kunipatia fursa hii. Niruhusu kwanza nianze na aya ya Kuran tukufu surah Alimran aya ya 185 inayosema:

“Kulu nafsi zaika kul maut.” Kwamba kila nafsi iliyoko hai itaionja mauti. Tukiwa hapa sisi sote tutaionja mauti. Na wale ambao pia tukiwa hapa tunawajua kuwa wapo wale ambao mwenyezi Mungu ameichukua nafsi zao. Lakini kwa nini leo tukiwa hapa tumeweza kuzungumzia nafsi moja ya Raila Amollo Odinga. Hii ni nafsi moja, ni mtu mmoja ambaye katika halaiki ya watu, yeye peke yake ndiye watu waliamua kumuita Baba. Sikumbuki hata siku moja ambayo yeye alisema niiteni Baba. Lakini watu wenyewe kwa yale ambayo ameyafanya. Yale ambayo ameyatenda. Yale ambayo ameyazungumza, wakaona huyu ndiye baba yetu. Kila mtu alizaliwa na baba yake na mama yake, lakini watu wenyewe waliamua hivo.

Sisi watu wa Pwani tunamuenzi Baba. Tunajua siasa kutoka zilivyoanza kura hupigwa. Lakini kwa ujumla, watu wote wa Pwani humpigia Baba. Na kwa nini inakua hivyo? Ni kwa sababu Baba Raila Amollo Odinga amekuwa akizungumza sauti ya wanyonge. Alikua akizungumzia maonevu ambayo watu wa Pwani kwa ujumla wamepitia kabla ya Uhuru na baada ya Uhuru. Alikua akizungumzia maswala ya mashamba. Alikua akizungumzia maswala ya ajira. Kwa wale watu ambao hawapati nafasi ya kupanda ngazi za juu. Kwa hivyo, kwa watu wa Pwani kwa ujumla na kwa Wakenya wengi, alikua ndiye sauti ya wanyonge kwamba Baba akisema, amewazungumzia watu wengi. Na ndio maana kumbukumbu zinasema hata wakati tukitaka kubadilisha Katiba kwa mara ya kwanza na yeye akakataa, watu wengi walisema vile Baba amesoma na sisi hatuna haja ya kusoma moja kwa moja pia sisi tunakataa.

Miezi miwili iliyopita tukiwa tunapeana pale mradi wa umeme na Mhe. Waziri Wandayi; tukiendelea na hizo sherehe, Waziri Wandayi aliweza kuninong’onezea kwamba nimepigiwa simu na Baba akiniambia kwamba katika eneo lako Bunge kuna shule ambayo imetajwa Jaramogi Oginga na ameniaamrisha kuwa kabla nitoke Matuga, niende kuiona hiyo

shule. Baada ya hiyo sherehe tuliambatana na Waziri mpaka kule sehemu ya Mazumalumi ambapo hiyo shule iko. Ambayo nimeweza kuijenga kupitia mfuko wa NG-CDF.

Lakini kuna historia kwa nini hii shule imejengwa pale. Mzee marehemu bila shaka, ambaye baba yake alikuwa katika wale watu waliopigania uhuru. Aliwahi kukaa na babake Baba Raila Amollo Odinga mwendazake Jaramogi, mpaka kukaa nyumbani kwake Simba, na hapo basi akasema mimi kabla nife nitapeana acre kumi, ili kujengwe shule na itajwe Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. Na tulipofika pale, baada ya kuiona, Waziri Wandayi alizungumza na Baba na akamwambia Baba alikua amemuamrisha, kati ya yale madarasa mawili ambayo nitaongezea hii shule, yeye pia atapeana pesa kutoka kwa mfuko wake, ili hii shule iweze kuimarika. Baba ameenda lakini nina Imani kwa sababu Waziri Wandayi yupo, bado hiyo ahadi itatekelezwa.

Na huo ndio upendo wa Baba ambao alikua nao kwa wananchi wa Kenya na wananchi wanyonge. Kuwapenda bila kuwabagua na ndio maana watu wa Pwani wakawa wakati wowote wanasimama na yeye bila vishawishi ila tu kwa sababu ya sauti yake na moyo wake mkunjufu. Kwa niaba yangu na watu wa Matuga na familia yangu, natoa rambirambi. Mwenyezi Mungu aweze kuangalia roho yake na huruma kulingana na matendo yake mema aliyoyafanya. Ahsante.

Ahsante. The Hon. Dorothy Ikiara.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Today…

Order Members! Do not block the aisle. Members blocking the aisle. Order! Order Hon. Members blocking the aisle. Take your seats.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Today we gather to celebrate an alumnus whose steadfast devotion not only forged the nation's destiny, but also illuminated the world's stage. Rooted in unyielding belief in justice, democracy and unity. He faced every trial with fearless resolve and profound humility. Embodying the true essence of exemplary leadership. Though his presence has passed from us, his legacy shines onwards. A radiant beacon engraved deep within the hearts of these people and echoing across the globe. As we honour his remarkable journey, we are compelled to call forth his vision. A relentless pursuit of justice, peace and unity for humility. Together, we celebrate Baba. Champion of devolution and democracy. Baba, you have fought a good fight, you have finished the race. Fare thee well Baba. Till we meet again. My condolences to Mama Ida Odinga and the entire Odinga family not forgetting our colleague Hon. Ruth Odinga and all the citizens of this country who believed in Baba. Fare thee well till we meet again. Thank you.

Hon. Members, as I resume the seat, it is important to notify the House and the rest of the citizens that the viewing of the body of the Rt. Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga will no longer be at Parliament because of the overwhelming crowds that have literally overwhelmed our facilities. The Committee of the Funeral chaired by the Deputy President and Senator (Dr) Oburu Odinga have announced that the body will now be taken to Kasarani for the public to view. For the simple reason that it was even difficult to get the remains of the Prime Minister out of the airport.

Lee Funeral, I understand were contracted to go and embalm the body at the airport. And it will be airlifted now from the airport to Kasarani. Those of you, particularly Nairobi MPs, please take the responsibility as much as you possibly can to inform your constituents

that they can slowly sneak to Kasarani to go and view the body. Nyayo Stadium could not be an alternative because it is being prepared for the State Funeral tomorrow. So, let us go on with our debate. Anyone of you who will want to go and view the body after I have spoken, you can also sneak through to Kasarani. But tomorrow, like I informed you, the Clerk and our protocol team are preparing to have seating space for each and every one of you.

Like I told you earlier, the Clerk and our protocol team are making arrangements for Members to have a sitting space at the Nyayo Stadium tomorrow during the State Funeral.

I am told that the next speaker was the Member for Turbo. Is she in the House? Yes, Hon. Janet Sitienei. Go ahead.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. On behalf of my family and the people of Turbo, I wish to extend my condolences to Mama Ida, the children, our colleagues, Hon. Ruth and Senator Oburu, and the entire Odinga family.

I wish to give my tribute to the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, alias Baba. He was an icon of democracy, peace, and stability. He was a charismatic leader and a statesman.

The first time I met Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga was at Wilson Airport. I stood to introduce myself to him and I was surprised when he shoved me down and said: “I know you! You are the Member of Parliament for Turbo.” I was surprised because I did not know that he knew many leaders.

He was a charismatic leader who fought for democracy in our country. As I mourn him today, I wish to call upon all Kenyans to remember those who fought for democracy in our country. Therefore, we pray for him as he rests in peace.

May we remember that our country is greater than all of us. May we maintain peace and stability. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Omboko Milemba.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to eulogise the maverick, the enigma, the icon of Kenyan politics, and the doyen, just like his father, Raila Amolo Odinga. Raila Amolo Odinga will be remembered for many things, but I will remember him for his honesty. He was an honest politician who would not lie to you. If you asked for something and he could not get it, he would tell you that he was unable to get it for you, but he could give you an alternative.

I remember vividly that when I wanted to vie for a seat on an ODM ticket, my local ODM Chairman, Sabetio Sabwa, brought me to Capitol Hill in Nairobi, where we met Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. He believed I could make it. Back home, some leaders within the party did not think that I could. Therefore, Raila made a public call on the speaker. In the presence of Sabetio Sabwa and others, those who did not want me in the party he said: “We do not want Omboko.” When the discussion ended, Raila told me: “You have heard. So, you can see what to do.” He was an honest person.

I remember vividly in 2022 when the Azimio la Umoja Coalition and other coalitions met Raila Amolo Odinga together with Atwoli, Oparanya, and the former President. We were given a chance to decide on what to do. I entered the meeting with Hon. Savula. Raila was honest. When Hon. Savula was asked what he wanted, he said he wanted to be the governor. Raila told him: “No, I have already given out the ticket. Maybe you could be the deputy governor.” I hope Hon. Savula is listening to me. That was honest. I asked my question, and he gave me an answer, which I am too ashamed to share. I was told the meeting was over, and it ended there. We went away. He was an honest political leader.

I will remember Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga for promoting peace and tranquillity. He would look at the holistic picture instead of only his personal benefits. We cannot ignore the merger between the Kenya African National Union (KANU) and the National Development Party (NDP) , when everybody thought that Raila would not work with Moi. We cannot forget

the Kibaki stalemate when we all wanted Hon. Moi out. So, what could we do? Raila surrendered his ambition and said, “Kibaki Tosha”. That is how Kibaki became the President. They worked very well together. During that time, Raila had had very tough wars with Hon. Kijana Wamalwa in Thika, but he still embraced Hon. Kijana Wamalwa because Hon. Wamalwa was now Hon. Kibaki’s Deputy, and they worked together. Raila had a big heart in politics. We cannot forget his “handshakes” with Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta and Hon. Ruto.

Next in line is the Member for Msambweni.

Ahsante sana, Mheshimiwa Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipatia nafasi hii ili nitoe rambirambi na pole zangu. Kwa niaba yangu, familia yangu, na watu wa Msambweni, nataka kutoa rambirambi na pole zetu kwa familia ya Mheshimiwa Raila Amolo Odinga.

Mheshimiwa Raila Amolo Odinga atakumbukwa kwa kuwa katika mstari wa mbele katika kupigania demokrasia na kutetea haki za Wakenya kwa muda wote aliokuwa uongozini

The next speaker is the Member of Nyandarua.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. On my own behalf and that of the great people of Nyandarua, I rise to give my condolences to the family of the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. I pray that God will give the family peace that surpasses all human understanding during this difficult time.

Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga was a fighter throughout his life and political career. He fought for multi-party democracy with his own blood. His achievements as Prime Minister, Minister, Member of Parliament for Langata and Leader of Opposition were impeccable.

He was an ardent supporter of sports, Arsenal being his team and we all enjoyed it. It is my prayer that we shall emulate his selflessness, spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness, and more importantly, his love for motherland. I pray that his soul rests in eternal peace.

Thank you. If we would all be as brief as the Member for Nyandarua, then more Members will have an opportunity to speak. The next in line is the Member for Nyaribari Masaba, Hon. Manduku.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Cowards die many times before their death, but for my Party Leader, Hon. Raila Odinga, to die in a faraway land confirms the timeless creed that this world is not our home; we are just passing through. Many words have been used to describe Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, but the best adjectives were those that were read out by His Excellency the President when he was describing the enigma. I wish those of us who are seated here will one day be described in a similar manner when we die because of our contribution to this nation.

I was privileged to meet Hon. Raila Odinga in 1994 when I was a university student serving as a delegate of the FORD-Kenya Party. Later on, I became his personal architect and we built many houses. More importantly, we built a friendship that lived to this day. I have served and continue to serve in his party as the Member of Parliament representing Nyaribari Masaba. Over the years, I have sat at his feet and learnt a great deal.

I want to inform the House that, even in his final days, we were planning to launch, in conjunction with the National Museums of Kenya, phase two of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum. He had tasked me to put together a team of architects and engineers so that, upon his return from India, he would visit the site and break the ground. I hope that the project, which was a pet in his mind, will come to fruition.

To Mama Ida Odinga, you remain our mother. We shall continue to support and love you and your children. To the entire Jaramogi Family and, by extension, the Luo fraternity, I pass my condolences on behalf of the people of Nyaribari Masaba and Kisii County. May the enigma's soul rest in eternal peace.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

The next one is the Member for Mandera South, Hon. Abdul Haro.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I stand here this morning to join my fellow colleagues in mourning a great icon, a statesman and a great son of this country. In my religion, Quran Chapter 2 verse 156, tells us: ‘‘Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will all return.’’ This verse means every soul must taste death. It reminds us of the fact that we are all mortal and that, at one point in our life, we will all leave this world. Some will go before the others, but ultimately on the appointed dates, we will all leave this world.

On my behalf, and on behalf of my family and the people of Mandera South Constituency, I take this opportunity to pass my condolences to the family, friends and all Kenyans following the death of the great son of this country, Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. Many words have been used here to describe the greatness of Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. One of our Members said he is our Mandela and I will add that he was not only our Mandela, but also our Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X combined.

(Applause) Hon. Raila Odinga was our great hero, a true Pan-Africanist and a global icon. He championed reforms, human rights and the welfare of the common man. We all know that the biggest base Hon. Raila had before his death was Kibra, one of the largest slums in East and Central Africa. This means that he has always fought for the rights and the welfare of the people at the lowest bottom of the pyramid.

One of the lessons we learned from Hon. Raila Odinga is that protests do not necessarily have to be destructive; they can be used constructively as a tool for social change. It is as a result of such positively driven protests for social change that Hon. Raila participated in demonstrations that enabled this country to get rid of Section 2A in our Constitution and usher in multi-party democracy. He was crucial in the Inter-Parties Parliamentary Group (IPPG) package of legal, administrative and constitutional reforms at a time when this country was going through very difficult times. Hon. Raila was also instrumental in the Constitution of Kenya 2010, which ushered in devolution.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I will crown it all or end my eulogy by reminding us of the first stanza of our National Anthem, which says,

“O God of all creation, Bless this our land and nation, Justice be our shield and defender, May we dwell in unity, Peace and liberty.” That stanza alone describes the legacy of Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. Indeed, Raila Amolo Odinga, the king is dead but Baba lives on. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Next is Member for Marakwet East.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to eulogise our former Prime Minister, Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. The political space we enjoy today as Members of Parliament and even those who will come after us is attributed greatly to the late Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. Hon. Odinga is remembered as a true democrat who fought for the liberation of this country during the one- party rule.

Hon. Odinga, is the real architect and father of the new Constitution, 2010, which has given us a lot of freedom which was not there before. On behalf of the people of Marakwet East, my own behalf and that of my family, I send my condolences to the family of Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, his friends and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) family. We have lost a great man and mentor who has mentored many of us, including President William Ruto, who once said he was a student of Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. Hon. Odinga is a man who stood for the country in many occasions. When the country was at the brink of almost a civil war or ethnic clashes in 2007, Rt Hon. Raila Odinga sacrificed his ambitions for the sake of the country by joining hands with the late Mwai Kibaki for the sake of peace of our nation.

We saw Raila shaking hands with Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta after the 2013 General Election and the same also with Hon. William Ruto. We mourn a great man. It is a big loss to our country. Hon. Raila was a true pan-Africanist. He stood across Africa and his political shadow casts across Africa. It is overwhelming and we have seen many Kenyans going to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to receive him, with others outside Parliament. We call upon our followers, constituents and Kenyans to mourn our hero in peace.

For those of us who were young at the time when Hon. Raila was a Member of Parliament in this House, he inspired many of us, especially when he was a Prime Minister

answering questions every Wednesday in this House and how he tackled questions affecting Kenyans. We are going to miss Hon. Raila. May his soul rest in peace. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Emurua Dikirr.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for also allowing me this rare opportunity to eulogise our friend, father and great man, whose figure stood like that of a nation. That gentleman who is lying dead and we are eulogising today, was a true enigma, icon and fighter for democracy and constitutional change. I will name all that I know and all that we know, but all that is incomparable to this man we are eulogising today, the man Raila Amolo Odinga.

Raila Amolo Odinga is synonymous with courage, resilience and unwavering dedication to the people of this country. Many people have talked about many things about the great Prime Minister. He dedicated almost 80 per cent of his life to this country. I think it is only maybe 20 per cent that he dedicated to his personal life. Today, we do not know how to say, what to say, or what we can think that can be enough to eulogise this man.

I personally knew and met the Prime Minister in 2006 when I first started preparing to contest for the Kilgoris Constituency seat. He took my hand and from that time, I never looked back. I worked with him and he told me very many things. He changed my political course and inspired me. Literally, he made me what I am today. Raila Amolo Odinga was my great friend. I contested but lost.

I then contested again in a by-election, which we also lost, but he stood with me. I remember he was persuaded to nominate me to this House, a position I declined because of the political temperatures in our constituency at that time. Later on, he nominated me to the position of Chairman, Poverty Eradication Commission because of the true friendship and patriotism that he had. However, I also never served in that a position because of political issues at that particular time.

I stood with this gentleman and even when I was doing my Masters at the University of Nairobi, he paid my fees. He nurtured me and taught me many things. I also remember when I was getting married, though later in my life, he came, despite the temperatures at that particular time in the Great Rift. I remember him flying the fly whisk over my head and that of my wife while we were tying the knot. Raila was my great friend. Even as we remember this great man, we must remember what this country has gone through, the stages of democracy, elections which have taken place in this country and the names we had given this gentleman when he was still alive.

Raila Amolo Odinga, may his soul rest in peace. May his family also get peace at this time. Many a times when Raila was alive and contesting, when he lost and all that, the family went through much tribulations. I believe that even as we rest this gentleman today, the family will find peace and our country will also find that happiness which Raila fought for. I am grateful that I am a product of this great gentleman. May Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, go well. We will join him at some point. Thank you,

Wachira Karani.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to send my condolences to the family of the late Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. I must admit I have never voted for him, but he is a gentleman I admire. I have vied five consecutive times, starting from 2002, 2007, 2013, 2017 and 2022. I have won twice and lost three times. When I last lost in 2017, I nearly went into depression. However, I remembered this gentleman who has lost so many times, but he is ever joyful. He encouraged me with his resilience.

Hon. Raila loved sports. I remember in the recently concluded African Nations Championships (CHAN) , he attended all the matches that were being played. Even at his

advanced age, he could go there very early and stay until the matches were over. Because of his love for sports, I propose that the newly built Talanta Sports Stadium in Dagoretti be named after him - Raila Odinga Stadium - so that his name can be remembered for very long.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.

Thank you.

Well said, very brief and to the point. Member for Mavoko.

Thank you so much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to eulogise and pay tribute to an enigma, a nationalist and selfless person who was full of peoples’ interest. He bled and suffered for this nation. The freedoms that we are enjoying today were all found and fought for by the late Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga.

Allow me to thank all Members of this House who have seen it fit and understood the reasons why we could not continue laying the late Raila Amolo Odinga in State in this House. The love that his people have shown is great, starting from the airport. We saw how the mourners even went to the aeroplane that was carrying his remains, all the way to Parliament. We have made a quick decision which all of you have understood. You saw the way the crowds were building up outside there; which would pose a big threat to this House. I thank you for understanding.

The people of Mavoko and I loved Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. In fact, I tell this House that all the final campaign rallies of 2013, 2017 and 2022, which were mammoth in nature, were done in Athi River and Mlolongo. He used to tell me: “Mheshimiwa wa Mavoko, napenda Mavoko.”

On behalf of the people of Mavoko, I bring our heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Raila Amolo Odinga, Mama Ida and children. I know the burden is not yours alone, but it is for all of us. It is known that my party leader, Dr Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, has stood with Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga from 2013, 2017 and 2022. We were there, despite him not being the running mate. We supported him and always saw him as our father and party leader. Indeed, when we came to this House as Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) , Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition Party to National Super Alliance (NASA) , we all rallied behind him. I have seen his true leadership. It is important for this House to know I am a Commissioner of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) , courtesy of the late Raila Amolo Odinga and my party leader.

Hon. Raila Odinga convinced me not to run for Machakos gubernatorial position and instead run to be a Member of the National Assembly. That shows he had good negotiating skills. He was never annoyed at you. He would tell you the truth, advise you on which position to run for and it all ended up very well. We have seen him in such negotiations through the “handshakes” he had with all the Presidents, including President Moi, who was seen as one of the most rigid leaders in Africa. But Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga cracked him and he joined Kenya African National Union (KANU) at a time when it was the only party.

We also remember Hon. Raila for fighting for multi-party democracy in this country. We will remember him forever for being the first Minister for Roads and Housing, and designing the southern and northern bypasses in this country.

This country, Africa and the world has lost a hero. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Go well. We will meet again.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Member for Uriri is next followed by the Member for Maara. The next one in the requests’ list is the Member for Endebess.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Indeed, today just like yesterday, the country is mourning. I have a written tribute. Allow me to quickly run through it.

Today, Kenya bows its head in sorrow and pride. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga has rested. A mighty chapter of our national story has closed, yet in grief, we rise to salute a man whose life gave meaning to courage, resilience and faith in our Republic.

Growing up in high school, we knew his father, Hon. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, the lion who once visited my alma mater, Rapogi High School. The people lined at the roadside to catch a glimpse of that great man, as they did during President Moi’s tenure. When Hon. Jaramogi died, our parents and community were anxious of what would become of the community. Then his son, Hon. Raila, emerged. His name became a byword, a household name and the only name everyone spoke of.

At the university, he emboldened a generation. He gave us the courage to question power. Among the students, there was a common word whenever there was injustice or whatever we thought was injustice. You would hear the word onge, to mean “no” which was whispered during campus protests. It was enough to stiffen the administration. They knew we would not back down because Hon. Raila had our back. He symbolised defiance in service of justice.

He was detained without trial, tortured in the dark cells, yet he walked out preaching peace. He carried no bitterness, but only conviction that Kenya must be better. He used his suffering to build bridges where others would have built walls. I first met him around 2013 during his presidential campaign launch. I caught the political bug then. He urged us, the young people, to throw our hats in the ring. I did it. I ran for Migori County gubernatorial position during that time, but I was unsuccessful. However, it lit a fire that still burns. Unlike modern- day politicians who mobilise their followers with tokens and money, Hon. Raila did not give out handouts. People followed him naturally. They followed the force of his ideas, sacrifice, and belief that freedom was a sacred duty.

When I later ran for Member of Parliament for Uriri, people told me that to get the ODM ticket, one had to pay money. But when I won the nominations, my opponent took me to the tribunal. He called me a relatively unknown candidate and said simply, “If you have won, you get the ticket.” I did not pay a coin. That was Raila. Fair, principled, and allergic to injustice, even in small matters.

We had our moments after the 2022 elections. I was among the members of the Orange Democratic Movement who chose to work with President Ruto. At one point, Raila invited me for a one-on-one meeting. He told me: “Mhe. Nyamita, the difference between us is that I have been your age, but you have not been my age.” He smiled and added: “But there are things happening now that did not happen when I was your age. We must consult both ways.” That humility, coming from a man who had faced prison, betrayal, and stolen victories, taught me that leadership is not about winning arguments but keeping bridges open.

He believed peace was patriotic. He separated the office he sought from the well-being of the country. That is why, even when he believed his victory was stolen, he always made peace. He did it with Moi, he did it with Kibaki, with Uhuru, and even lately with Ruto. He understood that Kenya was always bigger than Raila Odinga…

We will add you 30 seconds to wind up.

Raila told us that nobody can stop reggae. Today, that is not a slogan; it is a summons. The music must go on. We will make it play through unity, fairness, and the courage to speak the truth without malice.

Baba is gone. Long live Baba.

Thank you. The Member for Maara was next.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. On behalf of the Mbiuki’s family, the entire Maara Constituency, and Tharaka Nithi County at large, I stand with a very heavy heart as we mourn our late former Prime Minister.

The democratic space we are enjoying today is largely courtesy of the late Raila Amolo Odinga. We remember the journey to repeal Section 2A. Raila Odinga was one of the most influential leaders who pushed tirelessly to ensure that Section 2A was repealed. That is the foundation of the multiparty democracy we enjoy today. As we sit here, we must continue appreciating the role our former Prime Minister played.

I had the privilege of serving with Raila Odinga when he was Prime Minister after the 2007 General Election. At that time, I served as an Assistant Minister for Agriculture. It was through his effort and that of our late President Mwai Kibaki that we initiated the farm input subsidy programme, including fertiliser and other agricultural inputs. I also recall during the 10th Parliament, when I was representing the larger Nithi Constituency, a tragic accident occurred near Nithi Bridge, where about ten people from the Mitheru community lost their lives. It was Raila Odinga who came to our aid. He supported the affected families and attended the mass burial. That was the kind of man we are celebrating today.

Raila Odinga was a peacemaker. Even after several contentious elections, from 2007 when he had a handshake with Mwai Kibaki and became Prime Minister, to 2013 and 2017 when he again reached out to Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila always chose peace. Even today, this country continues to enjoy the fruits of the broad-based government born out of his spirit of dialogue. Raila Odinga was a pillar of political stability in this nation. As leaders, we must emulate him by promoting peace even in difficult times. His ability to build bridges across the political divide should guide us. Under very challenging circumstances, Raila Odinga always rose above bitterness and acted for the nation’s good.

After the Gen Z revolution, Raila could have taken advantage of the unrest to remain on the opposing side. But he chose instead to extend a handshake with His Excellency President William Ruto, leading to national stability. As a result, other political leaders have also joined hands with the President to move this country forward.

I wish, on my own behalf, to continue praying for Raila Amolo Odinga and his family, especially Mama Ida Odinga and the children. They are going through a lot, but with prayer and support, they will endure. With those few remarks, let us emulate all the virtues of the late Raila Amolo Odinga.

I thank you.

Member for Endebess.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, on my own behalf and that of the great people of Endebess, I send my condolences to the family of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, to his wife, children, and to my colleague Ruth Odinga, a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee.

Hon. Raila Odinga was a great man. I had the privilege of travelling with him, with Hon. Mule Mutinda and Hon. Mwadime, now Governor of Taita Taveta. We travelled together to Morocco, to a place called Dakhla. At the time, Kenya did not support Morocco’s occupation

of Western Sahara, and the Clerk even tried to recall us, saying we were joining the Leader of the Opposition in a place not recognised by Government policy. But Mwadime, Mule and I declined to return. We went with Raila Odinga to Dakhla. He proved to us that he was a great man. During that meeting, much of his address focused on the interests of the Republic of Kenya. That was around 2015.

When we returned after spending about ten days together in Western Sahara, Raila was flying first class. But when we landed in Dubai, he chose not to stay in the first-class lounge. He came to sit with us in business class, just to enjoy our company. That was humility. A humble guy who is of that status. During that meeting in Dakhla, he was the chief guest alongside Rev Jesse Jackson.

When you look at the history of Raila Odinga, the enigma, you see a man who sacrificed deeply for this country. Many people have built their careers through his support. Many people have also made careers by opposing him, using his name.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, today a great man has rested. It is a history in this country. When some of us were young at the university, we got to interact briefly with the late doyen of opposition politics, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. But Hon. Raila Odinga has actually surpassed some of that level. He has lived beyond many expectations. A man who was humble, down to earth, and somebody who loved his country more than even his life.

Fare thee well, Hon. Raila Odinga. May you live in eternal peace. Thank you.

Thank you. Hon. Sunkuli.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, today we are paying tribute to a compatriot, a fellow citizen of this country who has lived indeed and served on many fronts. He was a political figure with many abilities. He had abilities to fight and make peace. I was elected in 1992 to the first multi-party House in this country, if you discount the first period after independence. Hon. Raila Odinga was elected as a Member of Parliament at the same time. We served together from 1992, when he came in as a member of Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD) –Kenya, and later on he had to face another re-election when they changed parties to the National Development Party (NDP) .

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I have not sat on the same side with Hon. Raila for a long time, other than the last election which has placed me on the Azimio la Umoja side, which he led. Most of the time, I sat on the other side. When I was a Minister, I used to answer questions that he asked and something I still remember well was when Hon. Raila asked me a question about provincial administration. He asked, “Is the Minister aware?” I stood there and said, “No, the Minister is not aware.” He thereafter tabled a document which disarmed me because in my thinking, that document was very confidential. Hon. Raila had a way to get even the most confidential things in the Government. We were, of course, Ministers in the Cabinet of another great man called Moi, who Hon. Raila opposed. But I can attest that even as he lived in opposition, he was always very objective. We were all men of principle in our own way but he rose to greatness mainly because of his view, the kind of people and population that he represented. His steadfastness and persistence in winning elections and coming to this House kept him to growing higher and higher.

At one point, Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga and I joined the same political party. He came to Kenya African National Union (KANU) , which became the strategy that ultimately destroyed the party. I saw it with my own eyes. In the short time things were good, I took Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga to a place called Angata in Kilgoris, to perform Harambe for a laboratory, which still stands today. Thereafter, I tried to get him to sleep in Kilgoris, but no, that was not the only function he had, and at that time, helicopters were not as common as now. Raila moved on to Kabarak and had a very strong discussion with Moi and within a short time, he was our Secretary General. Later when disagreement erupted, which I still believe was his main

strategy, he moved away with a substantial number of our party people like Saitoti, Kalonzo, and other people who we never thought would move.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I do not know whether you will add me a minute. I request for one more minute because it is turning red.

You will get an extra 30 seconds.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga was great in many ways. He was the face of the opposition in Kenya, but Kenyans will always remember him for the many roles he played. He was on this stage. As Shakespeare says, this world is but a stage. We all have our entry and exit. Raila came and played his many roles. He entered into the world but unfortunately, like all of us, he has to exit.

Fare thee well. Kenya will miss you.

Thank you. Member for Njoro.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I think you should add me one minute.

I told you that will not happen. The next person on the list to speak is the Member for Limuru and thereafter, the Members for Igembe North, Tigania West and Marakwet West, in that order. I can assure you that it will remain that way. Go ahead.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Allow me to join fellow Kenyans, on behalf of Njoro constituents from Nakuru County, to give my sincere condolences for the loss of this great man, Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. As Raila rests today, I will remember one great thing he has done for this country. He is the father of democracy in this country. I wish to sincerely say that Kenyans have lost a great man, a man who humbled himself when Kenyans needed such a man. He humbled himself and joined His Excellency President William Samoei Ruto to unite this country and to ensure that there is peace. The Bible says: “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Today we remember this great man who has left this country united and peaceful.

For us to celebrate Hon. Raila today, we must do it in a very special way. He is a great man who has brought peace to this country to date. My humble request to all Kenyans is to celebrate this hero in peace and ensure there is peace, love and unity in this country. I also take some time to pray for our mom, Ida Odinga. I pray that God will give her a lot of strength and protect her family and children. I know this is Ida’s worst moment. I am speaking as a Member of Parliament who also went through a lot of pain when I lost my husband to leukaemia.

Therefore, I take this moment to pray that God makes this humble lady Ida, stronger to continue with her life. I also pray that he makes Raila’s children stronger.

To all of us, let us take the best lessons we have learned from Raila, the man who also fought for devolution in the country. Let us try to pick out the best things, Mhe. Raila has done for this country. Kwa sisi sote Wakenya, tunaomboleza kwa kusema, Mungu amuweke Hon. Raila mahali pema. Ahsante sana Mhe. Spika wa Muda.

Hon. Members, if we could do three minutes or less each, we will probably have more time. I would then be extending a few minutes, but you can get more.

Eng John Kiragu (Limuru, UDA) : Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity. I give my condolences to the family of the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo from my family and the great people of Limuru Constituency.

From his life, I thank God for giving him as a gift to Kenyans. He is one person from whom we can learn a lot about forgiveness. In his life, he has honestly forgiven many people including those who wronged him. The other thing is his capacity to tolerate insults. Even when he had been called all sorts of names, he was always clear in his focus, particularly because of his love for this nation. One other special thing that I noticed about him, is the fact that he is

able to reconcile people of divergent beliefs and convictions. He has demonstrated this in the country.

As an engineer, I met him at the University of Nairobi when I was a student. I followed his engineering career to when he was in the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KBS). Hon. Raila also believed in Kenya. That it can grow itself. He even went ahead and started an industry, the Spectre, where he produced gas cylinders. Something that people never thought could be produced in this country. He believed that we have the capacity to grow our industries. Therefore, as an engineer, I am speaking on behalf of the engineers who have passed through this House and my professional colleagues outside Parliament. That we have lost somebody we were looking up. He is a person who not only took his ideas about infrastructural development in Kenya, but also to the rest of the African Continent. He believed that we can open various roadblocks that we have created between the countries and have major infrastructure crossing all over the African Continent so that this Continent can grow.

For this Nation, I remember, not long ago, when he talked about the need to address the issues of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Today, I was looking at our airport when we were receiving his body. I felt that if there was something that we needed to do, it is to make JKIA one that Rt. Hon. Raila wanted to see. We should make sure that it becomes the hub of the East African region and that we do not need to come third behind Bore Addis Ababa International Airport and Kigali International Airport. To me, he is a man who had a vision for developing not only this country, but the entire region at large. He was not a tribalist. He did not want to play the kingmanship, but he believed that as a nation, we can live and develop this country together.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Thank you. Hon. Naomi Waqo then Hon. Taitumu.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to give my tribute on behalf of the people of Marsabit and on my own behalf. It is a sad day because we have lost a great leader, somebody whom we have known as Baba. Many people have associated and worked with him. He is known as a freedom fighter and a reformist. He played the role of the opposition leader in this nation and had a great following.

I went to Jomo Kenyatta Airport (JKIA) this morning as part of the team that would receive the body, and the crowd I saw there will remain in my mind. They were very emotional, energetic, and you could see the passion. I just told myself that this is the commitment, love, and passion that the late Hon. Raila has built over the years. I saw all that from the people who were there this morning to receive the body. Besides the President, the Executive and the dignitaries, the common wanainchi showed up in large numbers that were uncontrollable. That demonstrated the love that Kenyans have for the late Prime Minister.

He was a serious politician, patriotic and demonstrated the love he had for the country by working with all Kenyan presidents, including our fifth President, William Samoei Ruto. He did so because he cared about this great nation. He has shaped our politics, mentored politicians, and sacrificed for this nation, and that is why today everyone is shedding tears. We are all mourning and praying very hard that God will comfort his family.

He was a very influential man who connected well with many politicians and international leaders. He was a great leader who, until his death, demonstrated his leadership, passion, and love for his country. For sure, as a nation, we have lost a great leader, but we know very well, as the Bible says in Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 Verse 7, that there is time for everything, time to be born and to die, that here is time for celebration and to mourn, and today, as a nation, it is our time to mourn the passing on of a great leader. He will not only be missed by Kenyans, but by the entire world.

It is my prayer that we will give him a decent send-off, and that Kenyans will give him that respect without much distraction, and give him the respect that he deserves. I send my condolences to his wife, our dear mom, Ida, his daughter, Winnie, Raila Odinga Junior, Rosemary, Akinyi, and our colleague, Hon. Ruth. My prayers are with them. May his soul rest in peace.

Thank you.

Thank you. Next one on the list is Hon. Member for Igembe North, Hon. Taitumu.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Let me take the cue on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Igembe to tender my hearty condolences to the family of Hon. Odinga.

Kenya’s post-independent history is incomplete without mentioning Raila. This is a person who has fought almost his entire life to make sure that Kenyans enjoy the democracy that is envisaged in our Constitution. Hon. Odinga, has fought to ensure that devolution works in Kenya. His life and fight for democracy can only be equated to the life and struggles of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s struggle against colourism, which is a form of racial segregation commonly known as apartheid in South Africa.

Yesterday, the entire country was engulfed by a dark cloud when the news of the passing on of a great Kenyan, Hon. Raila Odinga, was announced. This is a clear testimony of the ideals that Raila stood for. Despite losing in several elections where he contested to become the President of this country, he made sure that this country remains united. At no time did he lose direction to tear this country apart. Hon. Raila was never tribal. Even after losing, he did not condemn any community for causing his defeat.

In 2007 when this country witnessed a great upsurge in fights that came up after the announcement of President Kibaki as the winner, Hon. Raila could not let the country go to the grave. This is a man who walked the talk. When he said something, he did not mind how many people were against it. He stood for what he believed in. I pray that his passing on fortifies this country to remain united and stable without upheavals that are caused by tribal divisions.

We are eulogising a great man, a patriot and a person whose political interests transits other things other than the interest of Kenya.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity.

Hon. Member for Tigania West.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to eulogise with the family, friends, relatives, ODM fraternity and the entire country.

Order. Those Hon. Members who are leaving, I want to make a ruling. To those Hon. Members who have logged in, do not remove your cards so that when we resume in the afternoon, you do not have to queue again. I think that will make a lot of sense.

Order. Hon. Members, this is happening because we came in and logged in at the same time in the morning. That is why some of us have sat here since 10.00 a.m. without getting an opportunity to contribute. We logged in at the same time, but we have to follow the list. So, I will allow Hon. Mutunga to eulogise then two more Hon. Members before we adjourn this Sitting.

I stand to eulogise with the family of the Late Rt. Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga; his dear wife, his daughters and son, our colleagues, Ruth who is in my committee, his brother, Senator Oburu Odinga and others.

I know that many Kenyans and members of the ODM Party are affected. The lovers of democracy are seriously affected because Raila has been a great pillar in the fight for democracy. Of all of us, we have learned many lessons. We have learned courage where Hon. Raila Amolo is concerned. He has been a beacon of hope for many of us in the country. He has spearheaded many courageous fights including the fight for democracy and the repealing of Section 2 (a) of the Constitution then.

Raila was a great man who fought for this country, not only for democracy, but he was at the forefront in fighting for the constitutional reforms.

Today, Kenya enjoys one of the best constitutions in Africa, which has really exposed its people to living in the 21st-century-era of life. Were it not for him, I do not think we would have achieved it in the time that we did. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga made sure that the rights are properly captured in the Constitution. This is evident in the Chapter on Rights and Fundamental freedoms, which is very articulate and detailed. The issue of the right to association, freedom of expression, and many other freedoms has been very well outlined in the Constitution. He is one of the people who has demonstrated to this country that people need to be heard.

In all the cases that the late, late Rt Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga lost as a presidential candidate, he chose peace. He chose to negotiate. He never chose to throw this country into trouble. He never chose any other solution to such problems. As leaders, we should learn from his negotiation strengths. We should not make inflammatory statements and try to bring our people against others. We should be aware that Kenya is a unitary State. It is indivisible. This is where we all live and expect our future generations to live. We should ensure that it remains a country where everyone is comfortable living.

He was also in the forefront of the fight for devolution, which aimed to have every part of the country develop after the realisation that certain parts of the country were not accessing development since they were not part of the top echelons of leadership of the country. The present war he was fighting is the war on the fidelity of the political parties, which is enshrined in the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) Report. We should continue fighting this war until we win.

Additionally, I would like to thank the President for proclaiming that Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga deserves a state funeral. He deserves it. He has been the second Prime Minister of this country and, therefore, he has lived at the top. Even if he never became the President, he has been the greatest support to all presidents of this country. That is why all Kenyans are mourning.

We have lost a great man who was a great hope for this country. His death has left a huge gap. All we can do is pray that his gap will be filled by the right person. With those very few remarks, I pray that the soul of Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga rest in eternal peace.

Thank you. We will have the Member for Bureti and close after the Member for Seme this morning.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I stand to join the Kenyans, my fellow Members here, and on behalf of the people of Bureti, to convey our condolences to the people of Kenya, particularly the family of the late Raila Amolo Odinga, the people of Kisumu, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) fraternity, and the rest of the world. We join in mourning and speak of the great things Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga has done, not only in advancing democracy and the democratic space in the country, but also in improving and holding together a nation. In times of crisis, he stood on the side of history for progress and for the people so that we can remain together as a nation.

Today is a sad day for the country. Aware of this, we stand together as a nation to remember and further the work that he has done in peace-building and building bridges to ensure that this State is united. One of the great legacies he has left behind is a unified country.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, you may recall that, at the death of Jaramogi Odinga, the opposition was such a strong movement in this country. The Luo Nyanza remained in the opposition until the coming of Raila Amolo Odinga. One of his great legacies is leaving the people of Luo Nyanza in Government and bringing the nation together. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) joined together with United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in the Kenya Kwanza Government. This was to advance prosperity, peaceful coexistence and a unitary State of Kenya, making sure that we all move together as a nation.

It will be remembered also, that Raila Amolo Odinga is the only leader who was able to remain faithful, forthright and focused in having the nation move along. He joined hands with his nemesis for the sake of the nation. He stood strong against the tide of corruption and made sure that this nation moves on. He remained focused to ensure that development in all parts of this country remained the mainstream idea that propels and compels us and puts us together in the vision. You will recall that during the crafting of Kenya Vision 2030, Raila Amolo Odinga was part of the team that put together the Kenya Vision 2030. We are almost achieving it but we are not there yet. There are those who believe in democracy, freedom and devolution like ourselves. There are those who believe in focusing our energies and concentrating our forces to move this country forward and that is the greatest thing.

Now we call upon all and sundry to come together at this moment not only to look at the vision that he had, but also the ideals that he held dearly, the convictions of free speech, the idea of democratic space being opened up. The people of Kenya have come together to not only to celebrate his life, but to reflect upon the days of his life. They should see the manner of man he has been, what manner of leader he has remained and what manner of person he stood for. We will miss him, but we know his ideals live. We join together with the President of the Republic of Kenya, (Dr.) William Samoei Ruto, that moving forward, we will remain focused and steadfast. We will remain a people and a nation together under God. Moving forward. Raila is dead, but Baba lives on.

Hon. (Dr) Nyikal, finally, for the morning.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I sadly rise, on behalf of myself, my family and most importantly the people of Seme, to pass my condolences to the family of Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga. I pass my condolences to the people of Kenya for the loss of the best President we never had. A leader who truly stood for democracy. A leader who wholeheartedly loved the people of Kenya. A leader who truly believed that the sole purpose of acquiring power is to improve the lives of the people. A leader who believed that power emanates from the people.

For all these attributes, he was detained for eight years. For these attributes, he sacrificed his ambitions more than once. He sacrificed his victory, to work with his political enemies as if they never fought bitterly before those victories or losses. For these attributes, he spearheaded and worked for devolution which, when

implemented as he envisioned, will make a great change in people's lives and the people of Kenya will benefit. Raila truly respected and cherished people's lives. I saw him cry when people died during his homecoming.

In 2007 when people were dying, he agreed to form the coalition government. When people died during his homecoming, he agreed to the “handshake”. He truly lived for the welfare of Kenyans.

May God rest his soul in eternal peace.

I can see the names of the Members who were on the queue to speak. Please, come on time in the afternoon so that you are not skipped. I can see Hon. Richard Yegon, Hon. Parashina, all the way down to Hon. Ruweida. Just come on time so that when your name is called in the afternoon, you are not skipped.

Hon. Members, the time being 1.16