Nyayo National Stadium fell silent on Friday morning — and then erupted into thunderous applause — as Bondo Anglican Bishop David Hillington Kodia delivered what many have called the most searing moral challenge to Kenya’s political elite in recent memory.
Speaking during the State Funeral of the late opposition leader Raila Amollo Odinga, the fiery cleric electrified the packed stadium with a sermon that mixed tribute, truth, and thunder. His words cut deep, condemning corruption and moral decay in high office, earning him a rare standing ovation from thousands of mourners who had gathered to celebrate Raila’s life and legacy.
“When we are proclaiming the Word, we should not be fearful,” Bishop Kodia declared, his voice rising above the quiet of the stadium. “Words proclaimed must have the power to transform, to renew our strength for the liberation of our country from those looting everything — from the national level to the village level.”
He paused, then delivered the line that drew gasps and applause:
“If there is anyone here — be you a governor, or an MCA — who has looted this country, know that you stand condemned.”
A Moral Challenge in a Political Moment
It was a rare moment of fearless truth-telling in an event otherwise laden with protocol and power. Before him sat President William Ruto, Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, Chief Justice Martha Koome, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and a cross-section of regional leaders including Ethiopia’s President Taye Atske Selassie and Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Yet Bishop Kodia’s message was unflinching — a reflection, perhaps, of the man whose memory the nation had gathered to honor.
He reminded the crowd that Raila Odinga’s influence was not bought, but earned through conviction and sacrifice.
“Raila never relied on money to intimidate or win followers,” he said. “He never used the power of his wallet to convince others. His politics was of persuasion, principle, and purpose.”
The congregation — weary from days of mourning — broke into applause, some standing, others wiping tears. For many, Kodia’s sermon was not only a eulogy for Raila but a rebuke to a generation of leaders who have traded ideals for influence.
Applause Beyond the Pews
A section of leaders, including several opposition figures, later lauded Bishop Kodia’s boldness. Social media was flooded with clips of the sermon, many Kenyans praising him for “saying what others fear to say in front of the powerful.”
“Bishop Kodia spoke truth to power. That’s what Raila stood for — courage,” one mourner posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Honoring an Enigma
The State Funeral brought together an unprecedented assembly of leaders from across East Africa — a testament to Raila’s stature as a continental statesman. The late ODM leader, who died on Wednesday morning after a cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment in southern India, was described as “the conscience of Kenya’s democracy.”
His body will be flown to Kisumu on Saturday, October 18, for public viewing at Moi Stadium, before the final burial on Sunday, October 19, at his Bondo home — where he will be laid to rest beside his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and son Fidel.
As the service ended, the echo of Bishop Kodia’s words lingered — not just in the stadium, but in the hearts of Kenyans yearning for a new moral dawn.
In the shadow of Raila’s coffin, one thing became clear: the Enigma’s spirit of fearless truth-telling lives on — this time, from the pulpit.
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