Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is set to be laid to rest on Sunday, October 19, following his wish to be buried 72 hours after his passing.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who chairs the National Funeral Committee overseeing Odinga’s state funeral, confirmed the burial date during a State Address on Wednesday, October 15.
Raila’s body is expected to arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 8:30 a.m. It will be received by President William Ruto alongside members of Raila’s family.
“We have been advised as a committee by the family that it was the wish of Raila to be buried as soon as possible, and the family has informed us that the timeline is 72 hours,” Kindiki said.
While the 72-hour period from the time of Raila’s death technically ends on Saturday, Kindiki explained that adjustments were necessary to accommodate unforeseen logistics, including the fact that the former Prime Minister died in a foreign country, requiring time to repatriate his body to Kenya.
From JKIA, the body will be moved to Lee Funeral Home before being transported to Parliament, where it will lie in state. Kenyans will have the opportunity to view the body between 12 noon and 5 p.m.
From Parliament, the body will return to Lee Funeral Home, where it will remain until Friday.
On Friday, a State Funeral service will be held at Nyayo Stadium from 8:00 a.m. in honour of Raila Odinga. The body will then be taken to his residence in Karen, where it will spend the night.
“On Saturday, the body will leave Nairobi for Kisumu and there will be a public viewing of the body at Moi Stadium from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” Kindiki announced.
After the public viewing, the body will travel by road from Kisumu to Bondo for an overnight stay.
Raila Odinga will ultimately be buried on Sunday in the family graveyard at Kango Ka Jaramogi in Nyamira, Bondo, alongside his late son Fidel and father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
The arrangements have been planned in close consultation with the family to ensure that his final wishes are fully respected.
More details on the funeral proceedings will be provided in the coming days as the National Funeral Committee finalizes arrangements for the state and family ceremonies.