ODM Party leader Raila Odinga joined mourners and other leaders in signing a condolence book in honour of the late Pope Francis in Nairobi.
Speaking during a visit to Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Matheus Maria van Megen on Thursday, April 24, 2025, Raila mourned the Pope as a compassionate leader who dined with the downtrodden and stood for justice around the world.
“He was a very gentle person; he struggled to pray for the World. Each time there is trouble or problems anywhere in the world, he has been the voice of reason, he has spoken for the downtrodden and has spoken for the weakest, he spoke against injustice,” Raila said.
Adding: “I hope the Catholic Church gets another Pope like him, I am a Not a Catholic but I am a Christian and a friend of Catholics, that is why we have all been pained by the loss of Pope Francis, as Speaker said he is the first Pope from the Global South and he exemplified the spirit of hope, reconciliation and of compassion.”
‘Papa wa Roma’
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, who will represent President William Ruto during the burial ceremony of the pontiff on Saturday, April 26, 2025, also observed that Pope Francis was loved in Kenya and all over the world for his ways.
“As Kenyans and as the Catholic family, we always cherish our Pope, we always love our Pope, and in 2015, Pope Francis visited Kenya and left an indelible mark on the minds of Kenyans,” Wetang’ula observed.
“Pope Francis touched many people. In my communication to the House when we observed a minute of silence I quoted one of his profound statements, the world is like a public hospital that heals wounds but wounds hearts…he stood for building bridges between people and communities and not barricading walls, we don’t have a perfect world but we need one where everyone is brother and sister regardless of background, religion or status in society,” he added.
Wetang’ula is set to travel to the Vatican to attend the burial ceremony, which has attracted the attention of world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Britain’s Prince William and Spain’s monarchy, who are also set to attend the event.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is also set to attend the ceremony, given that his country has the largest Catholic population of 100 million people.