As the nation grieves the passing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Siaya Governor James Orengo has made a heartfelt call for calm and unity in the lead-up to Raila’s final journey to his ancestral home in Bondo, scheduled for Sunday, October 19.
Addressing the public on Saturday, October 18, 2025, Orengo underscored the importance of maintaining peace and order, especially as large crowds gathered in Kisumu to receive Raila’s remains earlier that day.
Orengo outlined plans for the viewing of the body in Bondo, underscoring the family’s privacy.
“I know that shortly Raila’s remains are going to be brought here in Bondo, to the final resting place. When the body arrives, it will be here in the home, not for viewing but for family and other close relatives.”
“Otherwise, there’s a place that has been set aside just across where the members of the public and the community in Siaya will be able to view the body of our departed leader,” he stated.
He urged residents to maintain calm during this period, noting that previous viewing events had proceeded smoothly.
Thousands of mourners had earlier converged on Mamboleo Showground in Kisumu, where the body was flown by a military helicopter from Kisumu International Airport for the final public viewing outside Nairobi.
Security was heightened across Kisumu and Siaya counties, with officers deployed to manage large crowds.
The Kenya Defence Forces airlifted Raila’s body from Nairobi to Kisumu to avert the road congestion witnessed earlier in the week.
The funeral committee, chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, made last-minute adjustments to ensure smooth proceedings, including shifting the arrival to Mamboleo to avoid stampedes.
ODM reinforced this by directing that no speeches be made at the viewing venue, urging mourners to remain orderly.
