Tight security at Lee Funeral Home.
Tight security has been mounted at Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi ahead of the
arrival of the body of former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga.
Armed police officers and members of the Kenya
Defence Forces (KDF) have taken strategic positions around the funeral home,
with military vehicles and barriers visible along Valley Road and Argwings
Kodhek Road.
Only accredited officials, family members, and senior government
representatives are allowed into the compound.
Trade cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui and
Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau arrived early Thursday morning to oversee
final preparations before the body’s arrival from Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport (JKIA).
“The final touches are underway. Once the body
arrives, it will be prepared before being transported to Parliament to lie in
state,” Kinyanjui said, addressing journalists stationed outside the funeral
home.
He described Raila as a fearless statesman who
never shied away from standing by his convictions.
“Baba had nothing to fear. He could stand firm on whatever he believed. He
would call out anyone — whether it was the Executive, Parliament, or even
county assemblies,” he said.
President William Ruto is leading a
high-powered delegation at JKIA to receive the body, accompanied by former
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and senior
military and government officials.
The body, draped in the Kenyan flag, will be
transported in a military open Land Rover from the airport to Lee Funeral Home
under tight escort.
Upon arrival, morticians will prepare the body
before KDF officers escort it to Parliament Buildings for public viewing.
Members of the public have been urged to proceed directly to Parliament, as
viewing will not be allowed at the funeral home.
The body will later be returned to Lee Funeral
Home for an overnight stay before being moved to Nyayo Stadium on Friday
morning for a national funeral service beginning at 7 a.m.
Meanwhile, within the Orange Democratic
Movement (ODM) Party, Raila’s elder brother and Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga has
been appointed Acting Party Leader following a meeting chaired by Deputy Party
Leaders Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir and Simba Arati at a Nairobi hotel.
Raila
Odinga, who passed away on Wednesday in India, will be accorded military
honours during his burial on Sunday in Bondo, Siaya County.
