Raila told me he wanted 72-hour burial after Ogolla's death, says Onyango

 Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga'a aide Dennis Onyango during the interview on Citizen TV's Sunday Live on June 7 /SCREENGRAB

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's aide Dennis Onyango has revealed that Raila shared with him his wish to be buried within 72 hours of his death after the passing on of former Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla.

Speaking during Citizen TV's Sunday Live programme, Onyango said he, however, did not take the remarks seriously at the time and assumed Raila was speaking casually.

"He told me, even me, when I die, I want that thing done in 72 hours," Onyango said.

According to Onyango, the conversation took place while he was in Migori.

"When General Ogolla died, I was in the village in Migori. Raila wanted to go to Ogolla's home and he told me the guy wrote in the will that he be buried in 72 hours. Then he said that is the way I would also want to be buried," he said.

He said he never imagined that Raila had formally included the directive in his will.

"I told him nobody would accept those things. I thought he was joking. So when I got to Karen and I was told it was 72 hours, I thought this guy, he was serious," Onyango said.

His remarks offered a glimpse into Raila's attitude towards death, which Onyango described as unusually relaxed for a man of his stature and influence.

According to Onyango, discussions about death never appeared to trouble the former Prime Minister, who remained focused on his political work, ideas and plans for the future.

"Raila talked about death very casually," he said.

The revelations emerged nearly eight months after Odinga's death as Onyango reflected on his final interactions with the veteran politician.

He recalled speaking to Raila while he was undergoing treatment in India, saying the former Prime Minister sounded upbeat and optimistic about his recovery.

"He sounded very okay. He told me they had checked everything and treated the problem," Onyango said.

According to Onyango, Raila informed him that he planned to make a brief stop in Dubai before returning to Nairobi.

Onyango described Raila as a leader who remained constantly engaged with ideas, political strategy and Pan-Africanism, noting that discussions about death never appeared to dominate his thinking despite the comments he occasionally made about how he wished to be remembered.