Raila Odinga deadRaila Odinga
By Kimberly Kalusi
The late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga will be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Opoda, Bondo, Siaya County, in a solemn state burial ceremony scheduled for Sunday, according to the National Funeral Steering Committee.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki, who chairs the committee, confirmed that the burial will be the culmination of a week-long period of national mourning that has seen thousands of Kenyans gather in Nairobi and across the country to pay tribute to the veteran opposition leader.
“The late Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga will be buried with full state honors at his Opoda home in Bondo,” Kindiki said. “Preparations are in their final stages to ensure the ceremony reflects the dignity, legacy, and service of the departed statesman.”
The burial will be preceded by an interdenominational service at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University Grounds, expected to attract regional and international dignitaries, including several African heads of state and foreign envoys.
Security has been heightened in Bondo Town and surrounding areas, with key routes mapped for smooth traffic flow as thousands of mourners are expected to travel to Siaya for the final farewell.
Government officials have said the state burial will include cultural rites led by Luo Council of Elders, military honors, and a formal lowering of the national flag at the Odinga homestead.
Raila’s body will be flown from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to Kisumu on Sunday morning, where it will be received by local leaders before a short procession to Bondo.
“This will be a national moment of reflection — to celebrate a man whose life was dedicated to democracy, justice, and the unity of our nation,” said Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura.
Family sources said the decision to bury Raila in Bondo was consistent with his wishes and family tradition, as both his father, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and his son Fidel Odinga are interred at the same compound.
Thousands of Kenyans are expected to camp overnight in Siaya ahead of the funeral, while others will follow the proceedings on giant screens set up in Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, and other major towns.
The government has declared Sunday a public day of national reflection, with flags flying at half-mast across the country until after the burial.
“We call upon all Kenyans to maintain peace, unity, and dignity as we honor one of the greatest sons of this nation,” Kindiki added.
