Raila Odinga to Lie in State at Parliament; Requiem Mass Friday, Burial Sunday

  • by Rene Otinga on
Raila Odinga
An image of former Prime minister Raila Odinga

Raila Odinga is set to be buried on Sunday, October 19, as per his wishes to be laid to rest 72 hours after his passing. 

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who was appointed as the chairperson of Raila's National Funeral Committee, confirmed the burial date on Wednesday, October 15, during a State Address. 

"We have been advised as a committee by the family that it was the wish of Raila to be buried as soon as possible, and the family has informed us that the timeline is 72 hours," Kindiki announced. 

While the 72-hour period from the time of Raila's death technically ends on Saturday, Kindiki explained that adjustments had to be made to accommodate unforeseen logistics - including the fact that the former Prime Minister died in a foreign country, which requires time to repatriate his body to Kenya.

Kindiki
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during a public address on the evening of Wednesday, October 15 2025.
PCS

Raila's Burial Programme

Raila's body is expected to arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 8:30am. The body will be received by President William Ruto alongside members of Raila's family. 

From JKIA, Raila's body will be moved to Lee Funeral Home before being transported to the Parliament buildings, where it will lie in state. Here, Kenyans will have the opportunity to view the body between 12 noon and 5pm.

The body will be moved back to Lee Funeral Home, where it will stay until Friday.

On Friday, the government will then hold a State Funeral service at the Nyayo Stadium from 8am in honour of Raila Odinga. 

His body will later be taken to his residence in Karen, where it will spend the night. 

"On Saturday, the body will leave Nairobi for Kisumu, and there will be a public viewing of the body at Moi Stadium from 9am to 3pm," Kindiki announced. 

After public viewing, the body will travel by road from Kisumu to Bondo for an overnight stay.

Finally, the burial will take place on Sunday, October 17 and will be conducted as per the traditions of the Anglican church with which Ralia belonged. 

The former Prime Minister is expected to be buried in the family’s graveyard in Kango Ka Jaramogi, beside his late son Fiden and father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga's graves. 

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