In a deeply emotional ceremony held at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County, Kenya bid farewell to one of its most influential leaders, Raila Amolo Odinga. The former Prime Minister was laid to rest beside his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first Vice President. Among the many state honours accorded to him was a 17-gun salute a rare and symbolic military tribute.
Gun salutes are traditional military honours performed using cannons or rifles to show respect, honour, and recognition to distinguished individuals during significant national events such as state funerals. The number of shots fired depends on the individual’s rank or position.
The highest honour, a 21-gun salute, is reserved for a sitting Head of State. The 19-gun salute follows, accorded to a former Head of State, while a 17-gun salute is designated for former heads of government, including Prime Ministers and Vice Presidents. Raila Odinga, who served as Kenya’s Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013 during the Grand Coalition Government, was therefore eligible for this distinguished recognition.
President William Ruto, alongside other dignitaries including former President Uhuru Kenyatta, attended the funeral service held at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) on October 19, 2025. The President led the nation in paying respects to a man whose political journey shaped Kenya’s democracy.
Raila’s casket was draped in the Kenyan flag a symbol of honour, dignity, and gratitude for decades of public service. His state burial also featured full military honours, including a ceremonial drill, escort, and national tributes.
With this farewell, Raila joins a select group of Kenyans who have received state funerals, including Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi, and Mwai Kibaki. His 17-gun salute not only marked his constitutional stature but also his enduring legacy as a champion of democracy, justice, and reform in Kenya.
