Kenya witnessed an extraordinary outpouring of emotion on October 16, 2025, as hundreds of thousands of mourners turned up to pay their last respects to the late former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga, marking the largest public gathering in the nation’s history.
From Jomo Kenyatta to Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki, state funerals have been grand, but none matched the scale of mourning for Raila Odinga. From dawn, Mombasa Road to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) was filled with a sea of people awaiting the former prime minister’s arrival.
The overwhelming crowd forced security agencies to change funeral plans. Initially, the late leader’s body was to be received at JKIA, then escorted to Lee Funeral Home. However, the massive turnout led authorities to reroute the body directly to Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, for public viewing.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed that restricted airport areas were breached, prompting a temporary lockdown to restore order and ensure public safety. Similar scenes of mourning were witnessed across Nairobi Central Business District and in Bondo, Raila Odinga’s hometown, ahead of public viewing scheduled for October 18, 2025.
The scale of attendance reflects Raila Odinga’s immense impact on Kenya’s political landscape and the deep connection he shared with millions of citizens. Security agencies continue to manage the crowds to ensure a safe and dignified farewell to one of Kenya’s most iconic leaders.
