The remains of ODM leader and former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga are expected to arrive in the country tomorrow morning aboard a Kenya Airways flight from Mumbai, India, marking the beginning of a three-day farewell to one of Kenya’s most consequential political figures.
President William Ruto is set to lead top government officials and family members in receiving the body at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). From there, the casket will be taken to Lee Funeral Home for preparation before being moved to Parliament Buildings, where Odinga will lie in state for public viewing.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who co-chairs the national burial committee, said Odinga had expressed a wish to be buried within 72 hours of his death. However, he added that the logistical complexities of repatriation from India had slightly extended the timeline.
The detailed programme released by the committee shows that the state funeral will take place on Friday, October 17, at Nyayo National Stadium, beginning at 8 a.m. A solemn procession will later escort the body to Odinga’s Karen residence for an overnight vigil.
On Saturday, the procession will head to Kisumu, where mourners will have an opportunity to pay their final respects at Moi Stadium between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The journey will then continue to Bondo in Siaya County, where the final funeral service and burial rites will be held on Sunday, October 19.
Odinga’s final journey brings to a close an era defined by resilience, defiance, and democratic struggle. As preparations continue, the mood across the nation is one of profound grief — and gratitude for a man who shaped Kenya’s political destiny for over four decades.
