Christian leaders called for integrity and renewed efforts to fight corruption during the state burial of Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Oct. 19. Anglican Church of Kenya Bishop the Rev. David Kodia delivered a sermon that drew a standing ovation, condemning leaders for perpetuating the corruption that has deeply affected the East African nation.
In the presence of political leaders from all levels of government, Rev. Kodia urged government officials to stop embezzling public funds.
"From those who are looting from us, from county level to everywhere," he said. "I want us to make a testament from the people of Kenya. If there is anyone here, at whatever level, be you a governor, an MCA (Member of County Assembly), whoever it is who has looted this country, you know you stand a chance of being condemned."
His message resonated with the thousands who gathered to pay their last respects to the late Odinga. Kodia added that the former Prime Minister stood against corruption and lack of integrity in leadership. In his remembrance, Kenyans should emulate his sentiments, he said.
"Today we have very bad manners amongst most of our politicians. They have taught our people the culture of handouts," he said. "Raila did not use his wallet as a convincing tool. But he used the power of persuasion. Let us allow ourselves to be used by God."
Odinga ran for the top office five times, failing to clinch it in every contest. He mostly led the official opposition, which kept the government in check, except in 2008, when he was sworn in as Kenya's Prime Minister following disputed elections.
The Evangelical Alliance of Kenya underscored the values that Odinga held, choosing to “celebrate a leader whose vision extended beyond politics to the moral and spiritual fabric of our society.”
The Alliance called on the faithful to continue building a nation grounded in truth, justice, and godly values. “May his life remind us that every leader is a steward of God's grace and an instrument of His purpose in history," the EAK memo read.
The statement added that "Rt. Hon. Odinga was an enigma in Kenya's political and social landscape. His courage, endurance, and unyielding commitment to justice and democracy marked him as a man of extraordinary conviction. Through both hardship and victory, he remained steadfast in his pursuit of a free, united, and prosperous Kenya."
Other religious groups also offered condolences on Odinga's passing. The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) highlighted his contribution to the country.
The bishops lauded Raila Odinga's lifelong commitment to public service, highlighting his resilience and selfless sacrifice in pursuit of justice, peace, and national unity. They noted that his enduring vision for a just and united Kenya will remain a moral compass for generations to come.
The crippling disease of corruption
According to the 2025 Kenya Bribery Index, 71 percent of Kenyan citizens feel that corruption has increased over the past year. It remains a key issue strangling the country's growth.
"In Kenya, bribery has been consistently identified as one of the barriers to effective service delivery," the report noted. "Corruption has been observed to have a negative impact on the social economic development of a country. The vice diverts resources and opportunities from where they are highly needed and most productive to private hands leading to further entrenching inequality."
Earlier this month, the Chairperson of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Dr. David Oginde, who also served as presiding Bishop of Christ Is The Answer Ministries (CITAM), emphasized that corruption remains the greatest impediment to Kenya's development aspirations.
Oginde called for strengthened unity in the fight against corruption, underscoring that the responsibility lies not solely with the EACC but with all sectors of society.
The pervasive corruption was not lost on Odinga. During a local devolution conference in August 2025, Odinga noted the crippling effect that corruption has had on the country.
"Corruption is in all aspects of our lives: in procurement, in customs and income tax offices, in Parliament where money is wasted, in the courts, and even in the media. It is a national crisis," he said. Such statements had become a common theme across his political career.
Raila Odinga passed away in India while seeking treatment. Officials announced his death on Oct. 15, with the state declaring a seven-day mourning period to honor his stature in Kenya's political fabric.
