The Nyayo National Stadium fell into an emotional silence on Sunday as Winnie Odinga, the youngest daughter of the late Raila Amolo Odinga, honoured her father’s memory with a heartfelt rendition of his favourite song, “Jamaican Farewell” by Harry Belafonte.

Dressed in a flowing black dress with some gold detail, a striking departure from her signature casual and tomboyish style, her appearance alone spoke volumes about the depth of the day’s emotion.

As her voice filled the stadium, the thousands gathered from heads of state and diplomats to ordinary Kenyans stood in reverence.

The gentle melody, laced with sorrow and strength, became the soundtrack of a nation saying goodbye.

Her voice was soft but steady. As the familiar tune filled the air, thousands of mourners joined in, singing along. “Sad to say I’m on my way, won’t be back for many a day,” she sang, her voice breaking slightly.

Winnie Odinga leads crowd in singing her father’s favourite song Jamaican Farewell done by Harry Belafonte.

"But I am sad to say, I'm on my way, won't be back for many a day..." pic.twitter.com/VxsdBTSvrx — Kenya West (@KinyanBoy) October 17, 2025

Fighting back tears, Winnie Odinga shared that she was by her father’s side when he took his final breath.

“I was with him when he died — he passed away in my arms,” she said softly, her voice filled with emotion.

She dismissed the rumours that had circulated online about the circumstances of his death, calling them misleading and hurtful. “He did not die the way people have been saying on social media,” Winnie said, urging Kenyans to honour the truth and protect her father’s legacy.

Recalling his final days, Winnie described her father as a man of discipline and vitality who stayed active until the very end. “Every morning, he would go for a walk — one round, then two rounds,” she said. “But on that last day, he did five rounds.”

In her tribute, Winnie described her father as her “superhero,” the man who taught her resilience, courage, and the value of service. “The king is dead, but long live the crown,” she declared.

The crowd erupted in applause before she led them in one of Raila’s most iconic chants  “Jowi! Jowi!”.