He said that while Raila did not live to see the promised land, his mission would not end in vain
In Summary
- Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has vowed to lead Kenya to “Canaan” in honour of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
- Eulogising Raila as a fearless fighter for justice, truth, and anti-corruption, the former vice president said he would carry forward the ideals.
Eulogising Raila as a fearless fighter for justice, truth, and anti-corruption, the former Vice President said he would carry forward the ideals that defined Raila’s political journey.
“I want to talk to Raila. We called you Joshua, but we never got to Canaan. There were indeed crocodiles across the River Jordan, as you used to say,” Kalonzo said during the burial ceremony at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology on Sunday.
He added that while Raila did not live to see the promised land, his mission would not end in vain.
My brother Raila, we called you Joshua. You saw the promised land from the mountain top but never reached Canaan. But we will get there on your behalf,” he said.
Kalonzo pledged to uphold the values Raila stood for, including the fight for democracy, justice, and national unity. “I give you my pledge — those values you stood for, the tears and pain of stolen elections, will not be in vain. The nation must unite together,” he said.
Referring to a line from the funeral programme, Kalonzo drew parallels between Raila’s struggles and the words of Martin Luther King Jr.:
“You have been to the mountaintop; you have seen the promised land. You may never get there with us, but we have to get there on your behalf.”
Kalonzo worked closely with Raila over the years, serving as his running mate in two consecutive presidential elections. In 2022, he stepped aside to allow Martha Karua to take the position.
The Wiper boss was the only opposition leader who addressed the gathering. Other dignitaries present included People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, former Chief Justice David Maraga, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, and DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa.
In a separate social media tribute, Kalonzo revealed that his bond with Raila extended beyond politics.
“Raila was a man who valued friendship, and we were both great fans of Arsenal Football Club. We used to go to the club to watch football together,” he wrote.
He described Raila as a visionary who reshaped Kenya’s political landscape, adding that his legacy would live on.
Raila Odinga passed away on Wednesday, October 15, while undergoing treatment in India. by JULIUS OTIENO, The Star
