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Raila Odinga farewell: All about Sunday's burial plans
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
There will be a State funeral service for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday at Nyayo Stadium, DP Kithure Kindiki has announced. He will then be buried on Sunday October 19, 2025 at his ancestral Bondo home in Siaya County.
The move means the State and his family will be honouring the Will penned by Odinga, which reportedly stipulated that he be interred within 72 hours of his death.
It will cap a carefully planned, four-day State funeral programme designed to honour a man widely regarded as one of the country’s most enduring political figures.
Prof Kindiki, who is co-heading the funeral arrangement committee with Odinga's elder brother Senator Oburu Oginga, also informed Kenyans that the body will be arriving from India on Thursday. It will be received by President William Ruto and the Odinga family.
“We have decided to move with speed in accordance with the family’s wishes and the late Prime Minister’s desire to be buried within the shortest time possible,” Prof Kindiki told reporters at the DP's official residence in Karen, Nairobi, where the committee met on Wednesday evening.
According to the Deputy President, Mr Odinga's family, represented by Dr Oburu Oginga and other members, held consultations with their lawyer and reported that it was the former premier’s personal wish to be interred within 72 hours of his death.
“It was the wish of the Right Honourable Raila Odinga to be buried within the shortest time possible,” Prof Kindiki said.
“The government and the committee shall fully respect and honour that wish.”
The DP announced that a team led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi departed for Mumbai, India, on Wednesday evening to oversee the repatriation of the ODM leader's remains. The Kenya Airways aircraft, according to the committee, is expected to have a two-hour ground time before returning to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by 8:30am on Thursday.
Upon arrival, President William Ruto, members of the Odinga family, and senior government officials will receive the body at the airport before it is escorted to Lee Funeral Home.
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Kenyans to pay last respects
At noon, Prof Kindiki noted, the body will be taken to Parliament Buildings in Nairobi’s Central Business District for public viewing, allowing Kenyans from all walks of life to pay their last respects between 12pm and 6pm.
To accommodate the millions of supporters who may not make it to the viewing venues, the committee announced that public grieving spaces will be set up in various parts of the country, with big screens relaying live proceedings from arrival to interment.
“We want every Kenyan who ever walked, dreamed, or marched with the Prime Minister to feel part of this farewell,” Prof Kindiki said.
“This is not just a family loss — it is a national moment.”
Service at Nyayo Stadium
That evening, the body will be returned to Lee Funeral Home to lie overnight before being moved the next morning to Nyayo National Stadium, where a State funeral service will be held on Friday October 17, starting at 8am.
The service, which will be conducted with full military and State honours, is expected to draw foreign dignitaries, African leaders, and long-time political allies of the late opposition leader.
“This will be a State event befitting the stature of the Right Honourable Raila Odinga,” Prof Kindiki said.
“We expect dignitaries and VVIPs from across the region and beyond.”
The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) will lead the main liturgical service, reflecting Mr Odinga’s faith and family traditions.
After the ceremony, the body will be escorted to his Karen residence for an overnight vigil where close family members and associates will gather for private prayers.
On Saturday morning, the body will be flown from Nairobi to Kisumu, where a public viewing will take place at Moi Stadium between 9am. and 3pm.
From there, the committee announced that a motorcade will escort the body to Bondo, Siaya County, where the late statesman will spend his final night at his rural home.
"The final burial ceremony will take place on Sunday, October 19, in Bondo, in a ceremony that will combine State protocol and ACK traditions, in keeping with Mr Odinga’s faith and cultural heritage...The burial will be conducted according to the traditions of the ACK church, which the late Prime Minister faithfully belonged to,” Prof Kindiki affirmed.
Family still in shock
Dr Oginga said the family was still grappling with the shock of losing their patriarch so suddenly.
“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 shock, a suspected heart attack.”
The long-time legislator appealed to Kenyans to maintain peace and dignity during the mourning period.
“I don’t have the strength to speak much at the moment,” he said, pausing.
“But I pray that our people behave in a dignified manner so that we accord our brother a dignified send-off.”
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