The historical significance of having the body of Raila Odinga lie in State at Parliament Building informed a secret plan to ensure that was observed after the earlier ceremony was scrapped because of a rowdy mob.
Lying in State is the highest honour by Parliament accorded posthumously to an individual who is worth that honour, mostly serving or former Heads of State or government or those considered to be of similar or near status.
Due to his immense contribution to the growth of democracy as a veteran opposition leader and the significant role he played as a former long serving Member of Parliament, authorities resolved Odinga had to lie in State in the House for the people’s representatives.
According to the Clerk of the National Assembly Samuel Njoroge, to lie in State of the person of Odinga’s stature is a solemn opportunity for the people and their representatives to pay their last respects to the individual, at the seat of the people's sovereignty.
The body of the late Raila Odinga being wheeled out from a plane by military personnel at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi on October 16, 2025.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation
“Parliament is the seat of the people's sovereignty. Lying in State at the seat of people's sovereignty is the highest affirmation by the people, through their representatives, of the Individual's contribution to the welfare of the People and their rights,” Mr Njoroge said.
Lying in State in parliament is also significant as it fulfills part of the uncodified traditions, where State summons and instruct its Legislature to immediately assemble, drop any other agenda and honour one of its own as a matter of urgency and priority.
The Sunday Nation has learnt that on Thursday at around 10pm, a meeting of leaders was convened in parliament to plan how to bring the body of Odinga to lie in State in parliament.
A plan to have the public viewing earlier in the day was cancelled due to the rowdy crowd of mourners that had turned up at Parliament Buildings.
During the day, an intelligence report shared with parliamentary leadership cited the risk of a security breach in parliament and recommended the exercise be shelved.
Mourners climb the the gate of Parliament Building as they attempt to reach the location where the body of Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is expected to be kept on October 16, 2025.
Photo credit: Reuters
According to sources, the surging numbers of mourners who started queuing as early as 4am and a quick scenario check by security around parliament on the development of the situation as time went by, led to the change of venue by the steering committee.
The parliamentary leadership was informed that although the mourners were largely peaceful, the numbers were overwhelming and could increase if joined by those who were coming from the airport.
There was also fear that as soon as the body landed in parliament, emotions might run high and with the big numbers expected, there was fear of breach of security to the institution and therefore the decision had to be shelved.
But the leadership was not just going to give up on ensuring that Odinga, who served in the House as a member of Lang’ata constituency, was not going to be part of history and records of the House by failing to lie in State at the institution.
“There was no way we were going to allow some few rowdy people to prevent us from bringing the body of Raila to parliament,” one of the members who attended the night meeting told the Sunday Nation.
The body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi for the state funeral service on October 17, 2025.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
Apart from the leadership, the meeting was also attended by top orderlies of the House and a representative from the National Police Service for smooth coordination purposes.
Before midnight, the meeting was concluded and the next stage was on how to communicate the decision to members.
A decision was made that only a few members were going to be notified in order to prevent the leakage of the information to the public who would turn up again on Friday, a move that might have disrupted the process again.
About 36 members from the National Assembly and 12 from the Senate were then informed of the decision and were asked to turn up in the morning at exactly 7am to view the body.
At 3am 10 more members from the National Assembly and five from the Senate were again informed that the body of Odinga would be in the precincts of parliament and they should turn up to view it.
“We avoided members who would post the information on social media accounts and attract a crowd of people in parliament, so we only chose a few sober ones,” the source said.
Other members were informed in the morning at about 7am when all the security had been made and the police had secured the area and the body of Odinga was almost being wheeled into the precincts of parliament.
The process went on smoothly and about 163 members, led by President William Ruto, together with the family of Odinga, managed to pay their last respect to the former Prime Minister, whose body was later taken to Nyayo National Stadium for the State funeral service.
Deputy President Kithure, who is also the co-chairman of the national funeral committee, expressed gratitude that finally Odinga was taken to parliament.
“We are grateful that we were able to have Raila lie in State at the parliament. We are grateful to parliament for facilitating the viewing and legislators were able to pay their last respect,” Prof Kindiki said.
