Bondo Diocese Bishop David Kodia has revealed that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga faced major obstacles before being baptised into the Anglican Church.

Speaking during Raila’s send-off ceremony at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology on Sunday, Bishop Kodia said Odinga’s baptism was initially rejected by a white priest who declined to perform the sacrament because his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, had chosen the name Raila Amollo Odinga instead of a biblical name.

“He was baptised under controversial circumstances when a white priest refused to baptise him because the father chose the name Raila Amollo Odinga instead of a biblical name,” said Bishop Kodia.

Archbishop of Canterbury’s Intervention

According to Bishop Kodia, it took the intervention of the Archbishop of Canterbury for Raila to finally be baptised in the Anglican Church.

“Due to the interventions of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Raila was baptised in the Anglican Church,” he said.

The current Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Reverend Justin Welby, is the head of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Bishop Kodia revealed that Raila maintained a close relationship with the church leader and had on several occasions paid visits to him in Canterbury, England.

“Sometimes he went to Canterbury and paid a visit to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby,” he added.

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Confirmation at Canterbury

The bishop further disclosed that it took years before Raila Odinga was confirmed as a full member of the Anglican Church, a process that allows one to partake in the Holy Communion.

“Before he died, it took him long before he was confirmed,” said Bishop Kodia.

“He was confirmed at Canterbury as a full member of the Anglican Church, given the rights to take Holy Communion.”

He noted that Raila’s first participation in Holy Communion after confirmation took place at St. Peter’s Church in Bondo Diocese.

“The last time we had a service at St. Peter’s Church, it was his first time taking Holy Communion in his own church after confirmation,” he stated.

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Full Anglican Burial

Bishop Kodia announced that the church was according Raila Odinga a full Christian burial in recognition of his confirmed Anglican faith.

“So we are giving him a full Christian burial as an Anglican Church member of the Bondo Diocese,” said the bishop.

The remarks formed part of the tributes paid during the ceremony in Bondo, as the nation continued to honour the long-serving leader and statesman.

Raila’s body will later be transported to his father’s rural home in Nyamira for his final resting beside his father, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, in a ceremony expected to be attended by only close family members and a few dignitaries from across the country and abroad.

Raila Odinga remains at Parliament building

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