Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said that only 500 people will be allowed to attend the private burial of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Murkomen said the event will be strictly controlled to maintain order and ensure the family’s privacy during the solemn occasion.
“The process remains the same. All the events of the service will happen here,” he said.
“Citizens and supporters have been requested that only very few people will be able to access his home.”
The CS noted that the government will adhere to the set attendance limit, emphasizing the importance of respecting the family’s wishes and maintaining decorum.
“At most, maybe 500 people, but of course, you work with the times and challenges,” he said. “We will make sure we adhere to the numbers that have been set.”
Murkomen described the burial as a deeply emotional moment for the family and the nation, saying the final rites should be treated with solemnity and respect.
“There’s something very solemn about the last rites, particularly during the burial, which the family must go through,” he said.
He added that the burial will be conducted under tight security, with officers strategically deployed around the venue.
“The security officers are well prepared and well stationed in every corner, and I have no doubt that with the cooperation of the public, we shall be able to go through this process successfully,” Murkomen stated.
The late Raila Odinga, who served as Kenya’s second Prime Minister and was a towering figure in the country’s political landscape, will be laid to rest at his home in Bondo, Siaya County.
His burial follows days of national mourning and tributes from across Kenya and around the world.
Murkomen spoke ahead of the former Prime Minister’s final interment rights at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST).
He praised the police, military, and other security agencies for working in unity under immense pressure.
He commended their restraint in the process, despite the security breaches that were witnessed in the process.
