By James Okoth
The stillness that hung over Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo was heavy with emotion as leaders from across Western Kenya gathered to pay homage to Raila Amolo Odinga, Kenya’s fallen statesman.
At the heart of the ceremony stood Francis Atwoli, the seasoned Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), who for the first time since Raila’s passing opened up about a deeply personal bond, one anchored in friendship, empathy and shared struggle.
Taking the microphone in a trembling tone, Atwoli began by acknowledging that the grief had kept him silent since Raila’s burial.
“Mimi nitaongea kwa ufupi sana, naongea kwa sababu ile siku kuu sikupata nafasi ya kuonge,” he began. (I will speak briefly today, because on the main day I didn’t get a chance to speak.)
“Tangu tumpoteze Baba, imekuwa ni vigumu sana kwangu hata nikijaribu kuongea, maneno haiingi. Sababu yake ikiwa ya kwamba, all his doctors, yeye ndiye aliintroduce mimi to those doctors.”
(Since we lost Baba, it has been very hard for me, even when I try to speak, words fail me. The reason is that he was the one who introduced me to all his doctors.)
A hush fell over the mourners. Few had known how close the two men had been, or that they had even shared a hospital ward at one point.
“Mwaka jana, it was not easy for me and him. Wengi hamjui. Nikikutolea picha zangu na yeye, mwezi wa March, utashangaa sana akini encourage mimi kupigwa shindano katika matako ambaye ilikuwa haijafunikwa na kitu chochote; na nilikuwa nimeogopa.”
(Last year was not easy for both of us. Many of you don’t know. If I showed you pictures of me and him in March, you would be surprised. He was encouraging me to get an injection on my bare buttocks and I was afraid.)
The crowd erupted in brief laughter, a needed moment of lightness in the solemn atmosphere, before Atwoli’s tone softened again.
“Alikaa na mimi mwezi huo wote wa March. Nyinyi wote Wakenya hamkujua tulikuwa hospitali moja na yeye. Na alikuwa ananiangalia kama mtu anaangalia ndugu yake.”
(He stayed with me that entire month of March. You Kenyans didn’t know that we were in the same hospital. He watched over me like one watches a brother.)
Atwoli then paused, visibly emotional, as he spoke of Winny Odinga, Raila’s daughter.
“Na mtoto wake anaitwa Winny ndiye alikuwa anani encourage niende through all those processes.”
(And his daughter, Winny, was the one encouraging me to go through all those procedures.)
The veteran trade unionist painted a picture of Raila not as a politician, but as a man of immense compassion, one who carried others’ pain as his own.
He described Raila as a lifelong friend of Kenyan workers, a man who respected the dignity of labour and understood the struggles of ordinary people.
“The workers of Kenya, and indeed of Africa, have lost a great man,” he said softly.
Atwoli was part of a high-level delegation led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, joined by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, governors James Orengo, Fernandes Barasa and Paul Otuoma, as well as several MPs and former Attorney General Amos Wako.
They visited Raila’s grave at Kang’o ka Jaramogi, laid wreaths and later met Mama Ida Odinga at Opoda Farm, where they offered words of comfort to the family.
Mudavadi, who led the delegation, hailed Raila as a statesman of rare courage and vision.
“We continue to miss and grieve the loss of a mentor, a patriot and a leader whose vision for a united Kenya remains unmatched.” Mudavadi said.
For Atwoli, the day’s ceremony was not merely a formal visit, it was a deeply personal farewell to a man he called “brother.”
As the sun sank over the hills of Bondo, his message echoed through the crowd…that true friendship, just like true leadership, transcends politics and time.
The two men, one a fiery unionist, the other a tireless reformist, had found in each other not just partnership, but kinship.
As mourners filed out of Kang’o ka Jaramogi, there was a quiet sense that through Atwoli’s tears, Kenya had been reminded of the very essence of Raila Odinga’s legacy of love for humanity, humility in service and strength in unity.
