The atmosphere in Siaya County has turned heavy with sadness following the announcement of the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The county government has halted all its official functions, describing the moment as one of deep national pain and mourning.
Governor James Orengo said the county was forced to suspend its operations as a mark of respect to the fallen leader who had touched countless lives in Kenya and beyond.
Among the affected activities is the much-anticipated Siaya International Trade and Investment Conference (SITICO 2025), which Mr Odinga had been expected to attend as a guest of honour.
Governor Orengo explained that the current mood in the country makes it impossible to continue with business as usual, saying that all county events would be reviewed and postponed until a later date.
“The circumstances dictate a review of the ongoing programme of the Siaya International Trade and Investment Conference. As such, all plenary sessions and side events are postponed to a later date as we join the family and the nation in mourning our departed leader. We deeply regret any inconvenience caused,” said Governor Orengo.
His message reflected both sorrow and a deep sense of duty to honour a man who had been at the centre of Kenya’s struggle for democracy and justice for over half a century.
President William Ruto also declared seven days of national mourning in honour of the late Raila Odinga.
He directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country and at all Kenyan missions abroad. This national gesture underlined the magnitude of Odinga’s contribution to the country’s political and social journey.
In his emotional tribute, Governor Orengo described Raila Odinga as a man whose influence went far beyond politics.
“Words fail me to express the shock, deep sorrow and immeasurable grief at the news of the untimely passing of my brother, my friend, my party leader a statesman and a towering figure of Kenya’s second liberation, and the driving force behind the realisation of the 2010 Constitution,” said Orengo.
His voice, filled with emotion, captured the collective sense of loss felt by millions who viewed Odinga as more than a politician but as a movement and an ideal.
The governor went on to add that Odinga’s impact would forever be felt in every corner of the nation.
“Kenya has lost not just a politician, but a revolutionary, a visionary, and a singular force whose shadow stretched across the most consequential five decades of our history.
For the people of Siaya, the entire Luo Nyanza region, and the nation as a whole, we have lost our patriarch the symbol of resilience and a relentless champion of our political and economic rights.”
The Siaya County Government assured residents that it will communicate new dates for SITICO 2025 and other official functions once the mourning period is over.
The death of Raila Odinga, who passed away on Wednesday in the Indian city of Kochi while receiving treatment for an undisclosed condition at the age of 80, has left a void that will take generations to fill.
His passing marks the end of an era and leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire the pursuit of justice, democracy, and unity in Kenya.
