Raila to be buried in Bondo on Sunday

THE national burial committee was last night making hurried preparations for Raila Odinga’s burial on Sunday in his Bondo home.

Raila’s body is expected in the country today at 9 am and will be received by President William Ruto, his family, ODM officials and military officials, among others.

The body will be taken to the Lee Funeral Home as the military plans the state funeral. The body is expected to be taken to Parliament at 11 am for viewing.

A public service is planned for Friday at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi ahead of Raila’s burial at his Opoda Farm in Bondo.

The burial committee chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Raila’s elder brother Oburu Odinga was meeting late last evening to finalise the plans.

Necessary preparations began in earnest in Kang’o Kajaramogi.

Raila will be laid to rest next to his mother Mary Juma as per his wishes. The mother died on November 5, 1984, while Raila was being detained at Shimo la Tewa Prison and he never got a chance to pay his last respects.

President Ruto has declared seven days of national mourning following the death of the former Prime Minister.

During the mourning period, the national flag will fly at half-mast across the country and at all Kenyan missions abroad in honour of the ODM leader, who passed away in India on Wednesday.

“As a mark of respect, I have postponed all my public engagements for the coming days to join the nation in this period of mourning and deep reflection,” Ruto said.

The President also announced that Raila will be accorded a state funeral, complete with full honours, in recognition of his immense contribution to Kenya’s democracy.

A state funeral is a public ceremony held to honour individuals of national significance—such as heads of state or other prominent leaders—and often includes military honours and opportunities for the public to pay their respects.

A delegation, led by Ida Odinga and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi yesterday flew to India to prepare for the repatriation of Raila’s body.

Other members of the delegation included CSs Kipchumba Murkomen (Transport) and Hassan Joho (Mining), National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Minority leader Junet Mohamed, and family members Jaoko Oburu and Kevin Oginga.

“At the same time, the Government of India, at the request of the Government of Kenya, has offered to facilitate the repatriation of the remains of our former Prime Minister,” the President said.

The former Prime Minister, who as opposition leader ran for President five times without success between 1997 and 2022, had suffered a heart attack, the Devamatha Hospital in the southern Indian state of Kerala confirmed.

He was widely seen as a champion of democracy and political reform in Kenya.

From the 1980s he opposed the one-party rule under President Moi, pressed for human rights and endured detention, torture and exile.

In his emotional tribute, Ruto described Raila as “a giant of democracy, a fearless freedom fighter and a tireless warrior for good governance”.

“Fellow patriots, we have lost a beacon of courage, a tower of principle, and a father of our democracy. Let us come together, as he always urged us to do—not as rivals, but as brothers and sisters bound by a shared destiny,” he said.

The President said Raila’s name will forever be etched in the story of the Republic—a story of struggle, sacrifice, courage and the pursuit of justice.

“For decades, Raila dedicated his life to the fight for justice, equity and freedom. He endured detention and persecution so that this nation might enjoy democracy,” Ruto said.

He added that Raila championed reforms that birthed the rights and freedoms Kenyans enjoy today.

“His voice spoke for the oppressed, his conviction inspired generations and his vision shaped the course of our history,” he said.

Describing him as “a once-in-a-generation leader”, Ruto said Raila’s ideals transcended politics and his legacy would shape Kenya’s destiny for generations to come.

“In his passing, we have lost a patriot of uncommon courage, a pan-Africanist, and a unifier, who sought peace and unity above power and self-gain—a servant of the people who gave his all for the promise of a better Kenya,” the President said.

Ruto extended his deepest condolences to Ida, Raila’s children Rosemary, Raila Junior and Winnie, the Odinga family, the ODM fraternity, and all Kenyans mourning the loss.

“In a political career spanning decades, Raila offered a compelling model of principled politics. At critical moments in our nation’s journey, he always put Kenya before personal interest,” the President concluded.