President Uhuru Kenyatta shocked by Fidel's sudden death

President Uhuru Kenyatta

NAIROBI, KENYA:  President Uhuru Kenyatta has sent a message of condolence to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his family following the death of their son, Fidel. 

The President said it was with a deep sense of loss, sorrow and shock that he learnt of the death of the former Prime Minister’s son. 

He said the passing of Fidel has robbed the country of a promising young man whose contribution to nation building will be missed by all. 

“This is a big loss not only to you and your family but the entire country,” President Kenyatta said. 

Consoling the bereaved family, President Kenyatta prayed to God to give them the strength and courage to bear the tragic loss. 

“On behalf of my family, the Government and the people of Kenya, and on my own behalf, please accept our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences,” President Kenyatta said.

Earlier UDF-Amani Leader  Musalia Mudavadi said, “I have learnt with deep shock the sudden death of Fidel Odinga, son to my friend Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga.” 

“I talked to Hon. Raila this morning from Mombasa where I have been for the last two weeks and I could feel his pain. Raila said he was with and had a normal chart with his son yesterday afternoon after which Raila left for a meeting.”

“It is only this morning when family realised Fidel had not gotten out of bed as usual.”

He said the death is a painful experience for the family given that Fidel did not show any signs of illness. “Even more shocking, is the tragedy happens at the beginning of a new year. It is a tragic to loose a young man with so much promise.”

COTU said it has learnt with deep sorrow, profound shock and regrets the sudden death of the late Fidel Odinga, son to the Country’s second Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

“As one of the most dependable sons to the Raila family, Fidel was a great inspiration to most Kenyan youths and beyond and his death has dealt a major blow not only to the immediate family members but to the Kenyan youth nation in the country who drew not only motivation but mentorship from him,” reads part of COTU statement.

Nairobi County Governor Dr Evans Kidero said the news of Fidel’s death has stunned his entire family.

“While the loss of a loved one is never easy, it is most certainly the hardest when they are taken from us abruptly. The loss of Fidel at such a youthful age is definitely in the category of those hard losses for which there is so painful a reminder of what might have been,” Kidero said.