Kenya marked this year’s Mashujaa Day in Kitui County with a celebration deeply intertwined with remembrance and grief, as the nation continued to mourn the late Raila Odinga.
At Ithookwe Stadium, where the event was held, pupils dressed in white assembled on the field to spell out the word “Shujaa,” their voices echoing through the crowd as they performed a poem in honour of the veteran opposition leader.
It was a simple but moving tribute to a man whose political life helped shape Kenya’s modern democracy.
The 2025 Mashujaa Day celebration took place in the middle of a seven-day national mourning period declared by President William Ruto following Odinga’s burial in Bondo on Sunday.
President Ruto dedicated this year’s commemoration to the late former Prime Minister, describing him as a monumental statesman and a unifying force.
“To Raila, there was no place on earth deserving more devotion,” President Ruto said while leading the nation in a moment of silence.
“It is fitting and worthy to anchor this year’s Mashujaa celebrations in our departed legend Raila Odinga.”
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the chief guest, praised the day’s theme as a powerful expression of national unity and remembrance.
“Our heroes deserve respect, honour and admiration,” he said.
“Colonial history is not just about enslavement but about struggle, dignity and justice long delayed. Celebrating them is an educational tool for the next generation.”
Mozambique Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Levy also paid tribute to Odinga, describing him as a true African icon.
She urged Kenyans to use the day to reflect on national values and unity, reminding citizens that the spirit of Mashujaa Day is not just about remembering the past but building a better, fairer future for all.
