Anglican Church of Kenya Bishop David Kodia leads prayers inside the Raila Odinga mausoleum at Kang'o Kajaramogi, Bondo, October 7, 2026. /SCREENGRABThe late ODM leader Raila Odinga has been described as a man whose influence transcended political boundaries and touched the lives of even his fiercest opponents.
Presiding cleric at a prayer service to mark the first anniversary of the former Prime Minister's death, Anglican Church of Kenya Bishop David Kodia, said Raila's influence remained as powerful in death as it was in life.
"And that's the reason why we are all here today, to express our sympathy, to express our emotion with the Odinga family as we remember the life of Rt Hon Raila Amolo Odinga, a man that has brought all of us together," he said.
The prayer service followed the official handover and state commissioning of the Raila Amolo Odinga Mausoleum at Kang'o ka Jaramogi in Bondo ahead of the main memorial ceremony on October 15.
The state function was led by President William Ruto.
Bishop Godia said the service brought together people from all walks of life, regardless of their ethnicity or political affiliations, to mourn a man described by many as larger than life.
"The man touched even the lives of his own enemies," Bishop Kodia said, likening the emotions expressed after Raila's death to the biblical account of Jesus weeping after learning of the death of Lazarus.
"Everyone wanted to shed a tear for everyone to know that at least they were in solidarity," he said.
The cleric said it did not matter whether some of the tears were "crocodile tears".
"All in all, tears are tears, and here we are today gathered here," he said, adding that Raila had been his personal friend for a long time.
"There were some times things could not go right with us. As a church, you know sometimes we have to step on your toes, but you just have to forgive us. Those toes are there for us to step on and that way we can have a smile with each other," he said, in remarks directed at political leaders present.
Raila died of cardiac arrest on October 15, 2025, while receiving treatment in India. He was 80.
Following the official invitation-only unveiling of the Raila Odinga Mausoleum, members of the public and visitors will be allowed to visit the facility at Kang'o ka Jaramogi in Bondo from Thursday, October 8.
The government, however, provided live-viewing screens in Bondo town for members of the public who will not be able to access the mausoleum grounds.
The main public memorial service and commemoration is scheduled for October 15, 2026, marking the first anniversary of Raila's death.
Kenyans are expected to gather to honour his legacy as part of the month-long Mwezi wa Baba festivities.
