Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to be buried on Sunday, family wishes to be honoured - DP Kindiki

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at a past event. (Photo: PCS)

By Lucy Mumbi
Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Kindiki said the funeral plans will respect the late leader’s wishes, who had indicated he wanted to be buried within 72 hours of his passing.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will be buried on Sunday, October 19, 2025, the Inaugural National State Funeral Committee led by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has confirmed.

In a briefing on Wednesday, Kindiki said the funeral plans will respect the late leader’s wishes, who had indicated he wanted to be buried within 72 hours of his passing.

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Kindiki said the family’s instructions had guided the committee’s decisions.

“Following consultations between the family and the family lawyer, we have been advised by the family that it was the wish of the honourable Raila Odinga to be buried within the shortest time possible following his demise. The family has informed us that this timeline is 72 hours,” Kindiki said.

He added that, given that Odinga passed away outside the country, the committee will balance the late leader’s wishes with family, community, and societal considerations.

“It has been decided that we will have an expedited process that respects the wishes of the departed Prime Minister, the family, and the community, while taking into account other important imperatives,” he said.

According to the committee, the body will arrive in Nairobi from India on Thursday morning. A delegation of members who left for India is expected to land in Mumbai at 1:00 am local time, spend two hours on the ground, and return to Nairobi, arriving at approximately 8:30 am.

Kindiki said that upon arrival, the remains will be received by President William Ruto, family members, and officials, and transported to Lee Funeral Home before being moved to the parliamentary buildings in the CBD at noon for public viewing until 5:00 pm.

To accommodate Kenyans unable to attend in person, the committee said it plans to set up public viewing spaces with big screens in Nairobi and other locations.

The state funeral will be held on Friday at Nyayo National Stadium from 8:00 am, with dignitaries and VVIPs expected from abroad. After the service, Odinga’s body will spend the night at his Nairobi home. On Saturday, it will be flown to Kisumu, where a public viewing will take place at Moi Stadium from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, followed by an overnight stay in Bondo.

Kindiki noted that the burial on Sunday will follow the traditions of the Anglican church to which Odinga belonged.

Odinga, who served as Kenya’s Prime Minister between 2008 and 2013, collapsed during a morning jog in Kerala, India, and passed away shortly after. He was accompanied by his sister, daughter Winnie, a personal doctor, and security officers from Kenya and India.

President Ruto announced a seven-day national mourning period, during which the national flag will fly at half-mast across the country and at Kenya’s embassies abroad.

The funeral committee, co-chaired by Deputy President Kindiki and Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, has emphasised that the arrangements will follow the late leader’s instructions closely, despite the logistical challenges of transporting the body from India.