Crowds gathered at the Karen residence of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, breaking into chants of “Ruto Must Go” as the nation continued to reel from the shocking news of his passing.
According to footage obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, mourners could be heard chanting outside Raila’s home, even as President William Ruto arrived to offer condolences to the bereaved family.
The chants came only weeks after Raila and President Ruto had reached a political truce through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), forming a broad-based government that brought together leaders from both sides.
Raila Odinga reportedly passed away on the morning of Wednesday, October 15, after suffering a cardiac arrest while taking a morning walk in India.
He was rushed to hospital and pronounced dead at 9:52 a.m. Indian time, with close family members, including his daughter, by his side.
The 80-year-old had traveled to Kerala’s Ernakulam district six days earlier for Ayurvedic treatment, drawing public attention as conflicting reports about his health circulated online.
Following the confirmation of his death, tributes have poured in from across the globe.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned Raila as “a towering statesman and a cherished friend of India.”
The African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, also hailed Raila as “one of Africa’s most visionary sons.”
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema described him as “a tireless advocate for democracy and African unity.”
As the country mourns one of its greatest political figures, emotional scenes continue to unfold in various parts of Kenya — with many describing Raila’s death as the end of an era.
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