Khalwale: I was disappointed Raila’s mourning was limited to his broad-based days
By Mabonga Makhanu, October 22, 2025Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has expressed deep disappointment over how the burial of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was conducted, criticising what he described as an overly narrow focus on Raila’s final days in the broad-based government rather than his long, politically impactful career.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Tuesday, October 22, 2025, Khalwale noted that it was disheartening to see Raila Odinga, a man with a long and transformative political journey, being mourned only for his recent role in the broad-based government.
He argued that Raila’s contribution to Kenya’s political landscape extended far beyond his involvement in the current political arrangement.
Khalwale described Raila as a great leader whose intellect, political strategy, and national influence shaped the country’s democratic growth for decades.
Blunders during Raila’s mass
He explained that although not everyone who wished to speak at the requiem mass on Sunday was given an opportunity due to time constraints, it was disappointing that most speakers limited their tributes to Raila’s final years in government.
The senator observed that many speakers, save for Siaya Governor James Orengo, delivered important remarks but failed to capture the full scope of Raila’s political legacy.
He stated that Raila’s contribution was far greater than what he termed as “the small matters” associated with the broad-based government.
“However, I was personally disappointed that we sat there for long hours, and many speakers, speaker after speaker, save for the Governor of Siaya, James Orengo, made important speeches but clearly limited the contribution that Raila made to the political landscape of this country to his sunset days in the broad-based government,” Khalwale said.
How Raila was mourned
Khalwale added that Raila’s achievements should have been highlighted by a wider range of individuals who had worked with him throughout his political career.
He described the broad-based government as an ongoing experiment that is yet to achieve any tangible results, saying it was unfair to define Raila’s entire legacy through that lens.
According to Khalwale, the burial should have celebrated Raila’s decades of struggle for democracy, his fight for multiparty politics, constitutional reforms, and his unifying role in Kenyan politics.
He stated that by limiting the tributes to his final political chapter, the organisers denied Raila the honour and recognition he truly deserved, especially before an international audience that was keen to understand what made him an enigma in African politics.
Khalwale also pointed out that key figures such as PLP leader Martha Karua, who worked closely with Raila for over two decades in Parliament and even served as his running mate in the 2022 general election, should have been given an opportunity to speak. He noted that Karua’s insights would have offered valuable reflections on Raila’s leadership and contribution to national unity.
The senator further lamented that no one highlighted Raila’s critical role in reconciling the country after the 2007–2008 post-election violence, a period that defined his statesmanship and cemented his reputation as a unifying figure.
Khalwale maintained that Raila Odinga’s legacy could not be reduced to his participation in the broad-based government, as his influence on Kenya’s political evolution spanned several generations and transformed the country’s democratic fabric.