The body of late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Nyayo Stadium on October 17, 2025/EZEKIEL AMING'AThe Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)
has announced a change in the funeral programme for the late former Prime
Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, citing unavoidable logistical circumstances.
In a notice by Director of
Communications Philip Etale, the party said the body of the former Prime
Minister will not be taken to his Karen residence for an overnight stay as
earlier planned.
“After the public viewing that is
currently going on at the Nyayo National Stadium, it will be taken back to the
Lee Funeral Home for preservation in readiness for airlifting to Kisumu
tomorrow morning,” the statement read.
Originally, the funeral programme
included an overnight vigil at Raila’s Karen home following a dignitaries’ viewing
at Parliament and Nyayo Stadium.
However, the National Funeral
Committee, co-chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, revised the schedule
to accommodate preservation needs and ensure a smooth transition to the next
phase of the burial events.
On Saturday, the body will be
airlifted to Kisumu, where regional leaders and citizens will pay their final
respects.
A regional memorial service will be
held at Jomo Kenyatta Grounds, Kisumu, with expected attendance from governors,
MPs and citizens from the Nyanza region.
The cortege will then proceed to
Bondo, Siaya County, for the final burial ceremony on Sunday at the Odinga
family’s Opoda farm.
The former ODM leader and father of
devolution is expected to be buried in the family’s graveyard in Kango Ka
Jaramogi, beside his late son Fidel and father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga's graves.
The burial ceremony will include military
honors, religious rites, and tributes from family, friends and international
dignitaries.
The late Raila, a veteran opposition
leader, had expressed a wish to be laid to rest within 72 hours of his passing.
While logistical constraints have
slightly adjusted that timeline, the government and family have worked to honor
his final wishes.
This update comes amid a week of
national mourning following Raila’s death in India.
His body arrived at Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport on Thursday morning aboard a Kenya Airways flight, where
it was received by President William Ruto and Mama Ida Odinga.
From JKIA, there was a public
viewing at Kasarani Stadium, after the plans to hold the same at the Parliament
were changed due to a huge, chaotic crowd.
Raila’s death has plunged the nation into mourning, with tributes pouring in
from across the political divide and around the world.
The 80-year-old opposition doyen succumbed to cardiac arrest in India, where he had travelled for treatment after reportedly suffering a mild stroke the previous week.
