The late opposition leader Raila Odinga will be buried on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at his Bondo home in Siaya County, the family and government have announced. His body is expected to arrive from India on Thursday morning, with a state funeral service scheduled in Nairobi on Friday and public viewing in Kisumu on Saturday.
Nairobi, Kenya, Oct, 15, 2025 — The late opposition leader Raila Amolo Odinga will be buried on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at his Bondo home in Siaya County, the government and family have confirmed.
Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki and Raila’s elder brother, Oburu Odinga, who are co-chairing the national burial committee, announced that preparations are at an advanced stage to accord the former Prime Minister a dignified state funeral.
According to Prof. Kindiki, Odinga’s body will arrive in the country on Thursday morning aboard a Kenya Airways flight from Mumbai, India, where he passed away on Wednesday morning at around 9:15 am Kenyan time.
“The delegation heading to India will reach Mumbai Airport at around 1:30 a.m. Kenyan time to receive the body, and after a brief stopover, the Kenya Airways flight carrying Raila’s remains will land at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 8:30 a.m.,” Prof. Kindiki told reporters at his Karen residence on Wednesday night.
President William Ruto is expected to receive the body upon arrival at JKIA before it is moved to Lee Funeral Home for preservation.
The body will then be taken to Parliament Buildings for public viewing on Thursday from midday. Designated areas will be set up outside Parliament for the public to follow the proceedings live through national television stations and digital platforms.
At 5 p.m., the body will return to Lee Funeral Home. A state funeral service will be held in Nairobi on Friday, followed by a public viewing in Kisumu on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. before being transported to Bondo for an overnight vigil ahead of the burial on Sunday — just a day before Mashujaa Day celebrations.
Prof. Kindiki said the government and the Odinga family have agreed to honour Raila’s wish to be buried “as soon as possible,” ideally within 72 hours after his death, but logistical factors arising from the repatriation from India necessitated slight adjustments.
Raila’s elder brother Oburu Odinga, who also serves as Siaya Senator, said the family remains grateful to Kenyans for their messages of support and patience during the mourning period.
“Kenyans are seeing me as a liar, but indeed my brother was healthy and very well by yesterday. I spoke to him. It is only this morning that he got a shock and died,” said Oburu. “We thank Kenyans for showing their love to the departed soul and appeal for calm as we work with the government to give Raila a befitting send-off.”
Raila Odinga, 80, died while undergoing treatment in India, where he had been flown for specialised medical care. Reports indicate that he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at a hospital in Mumbai early Tuesday morning.
The veteran politician and former Prime Minister was one of Kenya’s most influential leaders, having played a central role in the country’s pro-democracy struggles and electoral politics for more than four decades.
Raila Odinga is survived by his wife Ida Odinga and their three children, Rosemary, Raila Jr., and Winnie Odinga.
