Raila Odinga, who passed away on October 15, 2025, will be laid to rest on October 19
Kenya will hold a State funeral service for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday, October 17, at Nyayo National Stadium, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki announced Wednesday evening.
Odinga will be buried two days later, on Sunday, October 19, at his ancestral home in Bondo, Siaya County.
The timeline fulfills Odinga’s personal wish — captured in his Will — to be interred within 72 hours of his death. It caps a carefully planned four-day State funeral programme to honour one of Kenya’s most enduring political figures.
What’s planned
DP Kindiki and Senator Oburu Oginga, Odinga’s elder brother, are co-chairing the funeral committee.
The body will arrive from India on Thursday at 8.30 am aboard a Kenya Airways aircraft, escorted by a delegation led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
President William Ruto and the Odinga family will receive the remains at JKIA before the procession to Lee Funeral Home.
“We have decided to move with speed in accordance with the family’s wishes and the late Prime Minister’s desire,” Prof Kindiki said after a committee meeting in Karen.
Public farewell
Odinga’s body will lie in state at Parliament Buildings from 12 pm to 6 pm on Thursday for public viewing.
Public grieving spaces will be set up nationwide, with live broadcasts of key moments.
“We want every Kenyan who ever walked, dreamed, or marched with the Prime Minister to feel part of this farewell,” DP Kindiki said.
State funeral service
The Anglican Church of Kenya will lead the service at Nyayo Stadium on Friday.
The event will feature full military and State honours and is expected to draw regional and global dignitaries.
“This will be a State event befitting the stature of the Right Honourable Raila Odinga,” Prof Kindiki said.
After the Friday service, Odinga’s body will return to Lee Funeral Home overnight before being transported to Bondo for interment on Sunday.
The final journey
After the ceremony, the body will be escorted to his Karen residence for an overnight vigil, where close family and associates will gather for private prayers.
On Saturday morning, the body will be flown from Nairobi to Kisumu for a public viewing at Moi Stadium from 9am to 3 pm.
From there, a motorcade will escort the body to Bondo, Siaya County, where the late statesman will spend his final night at his rural home.
“The final burial ceremony will take place on Sunday, October 19, in Bondo, in a ceremony that will combine State protocol and ACK traditions,” Prof Kindiki affirmed.
“The burial will be conducted according to the traditions of the ACK Church, which the late Prime Minister faithfully belonged to.”
Family in mourning
Dr Oginga said the family is still grappling with the sudden loss.
“We are mourning, but also celebrating the life of our leader,” he said. “When I said he was well, he was vibrant, alive, and kicking. Only this morning he suffered shock, a suspected heart attack.”
He appealed for calm:
“I don’t have the strength to speak much at the moment,” he said softly. “But I pray that our people behave in a dignified manner so that we accord our brother a dignified send-off.”