Raila Odinga has joined the distinguished list of Kenyan leaders accorded a State Funeral, a rare national honour reserved for figures whose service left an enduring imprint on the nation.
The state funeral tradition dates back to 1978, when founding President Jomo Kenyatta was laid to rest with full military honours.
Others who followed include Vice President Michael Kijana Wamalwa in 2003, environmental icon Prof.
Wangari Maathai in 2011, and Lucy Kibaki in 2016. Former Presidents Daniel Arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki were also accorded similar honours in 2020 and 2022, respectively.
During such funerals, the casket is draped in the national flag — a symbol of respect and recognition for exceptional service to Kenya.
Military officers form part of the escort, gun salutes are rendered, and the national anthem is played as a final mark of dignity.
For Raila, whose political life spanned over four decades, the honour reflects both his towering influence and his contribution to Kenya’s democratic journey. His farewell joins the country’s historic moments of remembrance, marking the end of an era and the legacy of a man who helped shape the nation’s destiny.
