Kenya is set to bid farewell to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who passed away at the age of 80 on Wednesday, October 15, after suffering a cardiac arrest in India. Raila’s state funeral will take place at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, beginning at 7:00 am and concluding by 2:00 pm, with attendance expected from foreign Heads of State and other dignitaries.
The funeral timetable for Friday, October 17, is as follows: mourners will be seated by 7:00 am, followed by the body leaving Lee Funeral Home at 8:00 am under military escort. The family arrives at 8:15 am, foreign dignitaries at 8:30 am, and the President at 8:45 am. The national and EAC anthems will be played at 9:00 am, followed by a two-hour Anglican Church service from 9:35 am to 11:35 am. The Deputy President will invite the President to welcome foreign dignitaries, culminating in the Presidential address. The body will then be transported to the family’s Karen residence at 2:00 pm.
On Saturday, October 18, the body will depart Karen for Kisumu at 7:00 am, arriving at Mamboleo Showgrounds by 9:00 am for public viewing until 2:00 pm. Later, the body will be moved to Bondo for an overnight stay, with prayers led by the Anglican Church at 4:40 pm.
Raila Odinga’s burial will be held on Sunday, October 19, in accordance with Anglican traditions, at the family graveyard in Kango Ka Jaramogi, beside his late father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and son Fidel. Adjustments were made to the funeral schedule to accommodate repatriation from India and other logistical considerations.
