Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has announced that the State Funeral for the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will be held at the Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, beginning at 9 a.m. and concluding at 11 a.m. The solemn ceremony, expected to attract thousands, will feature full military honours, a church sermon by the Anglican Church of Kenya, and tributes from both local and international leaders.
Kindiki, who chairs the National Committee for the State Funeral of Raila Odinga, emphasized that the event will be conducted with utmost dignity and order. “The committee is grateful to the thousands of mourners who continue to mourn him in dignity and request calm and order as the mourning period gets into the second day tomorrow,” Kindiki said at his Karen residence on Thursday.
The Deputy President urged attendees to be seated by 8 a.m., as the event will strictly begin at the scheduled time. The service will include eulogies from Raila’s family, a sermon from the Anglican clergy, and remarks by foreign heads of state and government representatives.
Following the official ceremony, a public viewing of Raila’s body will continue at the stadium to allow more Kenyans to pay their last respects. “We will stretch the opportunity from around 12 noon to as far as possible to give the highest number of mourners an opportunity to mourn and pay their last respects,” Kindiki added.
On Thursday, thousands turned up at the Kasarani Stadium for the public viewing, which had earlier been scheduled to take place at Parliament Buildings but was moved due to logistical challenges.
The government and the Odinga family have appealed for calm, urging mourners to maintain peace and dignity as the nation prepares to bid farewell to one of Kenya’s most influential political figures.
