Nairobi, Kenya: The late former Prime Minister of Kenya, Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga will be laid to rest on Sunday, October 19, at his ancestral home in Bondo, Siaya County, with a State funeral service scheduled for Friday, October 17, at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki announced the arrangements on Wednesday evening, revealing that the four-day programme had been developed in close consultation with the Odinga family and in fulfilment of Raila’s personal wish, as captured in his Will, to be buried within 72 hours of his death.
“The government has moved with speed in accordance with the family’s wishes and the late Prime Minister’s desire,” Prof Kindiki said after chairing the national funeral committee meeting in Karen, co-chaired with Senator Oburu Oginga, the late Odinga’s elder brother.
According to the official programme, Odinga’s body arrives in Nairobi from India on Thursday morning aboard a Kenya Airways aircraft, escorted by a delegation led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
President William Ruto, accompanied by members of the Odinga family, will receive the remains at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport before the procession to Lee Funeral Home.
Odinga’s body will lie in state at Parliament Buildings on Thursday from 12pm to 6pm to allow the public to pay their last respects. Deputy President Kindiki said grieving spaces would also be set up across the country, with key events broadcast live to enable all Kenyans to participate. “We want every Kenyan who ever walked, dreamed, or marched with the Prime Minister to feel part of this farewell,” he said.
The State funeral service on Friday will be led by the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) and will feature full military and State honours. It is expected to attract regional and global dignitaries. “This will be a State event befitting the stature of the Right Honourable Raila Odinga,” Prof Kindiki affirmed.
Following the service, Odinga’s body will return to Lee Funeral Home overnight before being moved to his Karen residence for a private family vigil. On Saturday morning, the casket will be flown to Kisumu for public viewing at Moi Stadium from 9am to 3pm, before proceeding by road to Bondo, where the former Premier will spend his final night at his rural home.
The burial ceremony will take place on Sunday, October 19, in an event combining State protocol with ACK traditions. “The burial will be conducted according to the traditions of the Anglican Church, which the late Prime Minister faithfully belonged to,” Kindiki confirmed.
Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga said the family is still struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss. “We are mourning but also celebrating the life of our leader,” he said. “When I said he was well, he was vibrant, alive, and kicking. Only this morning he suffered a shock, a suspected heart attack.”
Appealing for calm, Oburu added softly, “I don’t have the strength to speak much at the moment, but I pray that our people behave in a dignified manner so that we accord our brother a dignified send-off.”
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
