Mourners will have a second opportunity to view the body of Raila Odinga and pay their respects on Friday October 17.
This was announced by Kithure Kindiki, the Deputy President and co-chairperson of Raila's National Funeral Committee, during an evening briefing on Thursday, when he confirmed that the viewing would start at around noon.
“There will be a public viewing after the State event tomorrow. Mourners will get a second opportunity from noon, to as far as possible, to allow as many Kenyans as possible to pay their last respects,” Kindiki said.
On Thursday, Kenyans flocked to Moi International Stadium Kasarani to pay their last respects to Raila, with the viewing continuing late into the night.
Also Read: Raila’s State Funeral - Full Timetable for Friday and Saturday
However, due to logistical issues, the body arrived at the stadium late in the afternoon, at around 4 pm, leaving mourners with only a short time to view the body, starting at around 5:30 pm. Some mourners were already seen leaving the venue before the viewing began.
This prompted the committee to consider giving any mourners who were unable to attend another chance to view the body.
The committee will give the next briefing to be done tomorrow at 6.30 pm for further updates on the funeral arrangements.
Oburu Odinga, the co-chair of the committee, missed the presser as he was in Siaya. He was represented by his sister Dr Akinyi Wenwa and other family members.
State Funeral
The committee has also confirmed that several heads of state and foreign heads of delegation will be attending Raila’s Requiem Mass at the Nyayo National Stadium tomorrow.
The state funeral is expected to begin at 8 am and conclude at midday, at which point the public viewing will commence.
On Wednesday, the committee confirmed that Raila had requested to be buried within 72 hours of his death.
"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 that he died in a foreign country, which requires time to repatriate his body to Kenya.
Following the memorial service and public viewing tomorrow, Raila’s body will be flown to Kisumu on Saturday morning.
In Kisumu, another public viewing will be held at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo.
On Sunday, a funeral service will be held at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University ahead of his burial at the family home in Kang'o Ka Jaramogi.
