Raila had reportedly expressed that he wanted to be buried within 72 hours after his passing, a wish that his loved ones and the state have agreed to honor.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who has been appointed the chairperson of the National Funeral Committee, made the official announcement on Wednesday, October 15, during a national address.
Kindiki said the arrangements were being done quickly in line with the family’s request and Raila’s personal wish to rest soon after his death.
“The family has informed us that the late Raila Odinga wanted to be buried without delay, within seventy-two hours. We are working closely with them to fulfill that wish,” Kindiki stated.
Raila’s body is expected to arrive in Kenya on Thursday, October 16, around 9:00 a.m., where it will be received by state officials and transported to the Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi.
He will later lie in state at Parliament Buildings for Kenyans to pay their last respects before the burial on Sunday.
The final resting place will be Kango Ka Jaramogi village in Bondo, Siaya County, at the family graveyard beside his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and his late son Fidel Odinga.
A requiem mass will be held on Friday, October 17, expected to draw local and international leaders, dignitaries, and thousands of supporters.
The government has declared a seven-day national mourning period, with flags flying at half-mast across the country.
As the nation continues to mourn, streets and homes remain filled with emotional tributes.
Many Kenyans have described Raila as a symbol of democracy, a freedom fighter, and a leader who inspired generations.
Messages of condolences have also continued to pour in from global leaders including former President Uhuru Kenyatta, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, who praised Raila for his lifelong dedication to justice and unity.
Raila Odinga’s funeral is expected to be one of the most significant state burials in Kenya’s history — a moment when the country comes together to honor a man whose political journey shaped its democracy.
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