Hard truths. Bold Insights. Real talk.
Thank you for standing by me even when I fell short or outright failed, and for always showing me grace. Thank you for your wisdom, your guidance and your unwavering love — not just for me, but for our entire family: Mama, Fidel, Rosie, Winnie, my wife, my children, my in-laws and my friends.
Winnie shared how she felt lucky to have had Raila as her father, alongside three other close family members.
A State funeral in honour of the late ODM chief is being held on Friday at the Nyayo National Stadium.
The two items he carried hold deep symbolic weight. The fly whisk—an ever-present feature in Raila’s rallies and public events—represented his authority and unbroken bond with his supporters.
Preparations were also underway for Saturday’s State Funeral at Nyayo National Stadium, which is expected to draw global attention and high-level delegations from across the world. Police said that about 10,000 officers had been mobilized to ensure order during the event.
Nairobi’s head of traffic operations, Joseph Chirchir, announced road closures around the stadium to control movement and advised motorists to use alternative routes through Bunyala Road to access the city centre.
Kalonzo had been in the UK for a ten-day official visit that began on October 8, following his party’s decision earlier this month to endorse him as their presidential flagbearer ahead of the 2027 elections. His trip included meetings with policy leaders, international partners, and members of the Kenyan community abroad.
Raila’s body, wrapped in the Kenyan flag, lies under the watch of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in a ceremony reserved for national figures accorded State honours.
Odinga was born on 7 January 1945 in Maseno, Kisumu County, and studied mechanical engineering in East Germany, where he earned a master’s degree in 1970. He was married to Ida Odinga, and together they raised four children, the late Fidel, Rosemary, Raila Junior, and Winnie. He once said Fidel’s name was inspired by Cuban leader Fidel Castro, whom he admired for standing up to the United States during the Vietnam War.
Kenyans thronged the national stadium on Thursday to pay their last respects for the ODM leaders after the viewing venue was moved from the Parliament Buildings due to logistical challenges.
Speaking on Thursday evening, Kindiki said the State funeral will begin at 9 am, and guests are expected to be seated by 8 am.
On Thursday, Senator Oburu Oginga, Raila’s elder brother, led family members, close friends, and church leaders in prayers and in formally designating the burial location. He confirmed that the grave, situated approximately five metres from Jaramogi’s mausoleum, will hold Raila’s remains.
The case had been filed by Michael Onyango Otieno, who sought a declaration that interring Odinga within 72 hours contradicted the Constitution. He argued that such haste breached Article 44, which protects the right of every person to engage in their community’s cultural life.
The electoral body further stated that Raila’s life was etched in Kenya’s democratic foundations and that his efforts were reflected in every reform, freedom, and ballot cast since the return of multiparty democracy.
Senator Oburu emphasized that while the public would have an opportunity to pay their last respects, the actual burial would remain a family affair.
Raila’s passing has left the nation in mourning, with tributes coming from across Kenya and beyond. The 80-year-old opposition figure died in India, where he had sought treatment following a mild stroke he suffered the previous week.
President William Ruto led the delegation in paying respects to the late statesman. He was followed by Mama Ida Odinga, the late leader’s children, and close relatives. Among the dignitaries present were former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
He narrated that during a conversation, he told Raila that his opponents were used to stealing his victory and maybe they should also plan to rig themselves into office.
In a statement on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing “firmly rejects the allegation” and accused the United Kingdom of engaging in political manipulation.
TSC said the affected interviews will now be conducted over three working days, from Tuesday, October 21, to Thursday, October 23, 2025.
The crowd, which had turned up in large numbers, had grown increasingly impatient as they awaited the arrival of the late leader’s remains from India.
![[PHOTOS] Standing Together: Kenyan leaders join Odinga Family as Raila's body returns home](https://radiogeneration.co.ke/cms/mugera_lock/uploads/2025/10/dbe3164f-277b-4d2b-b33e-c098c42ea9ae.jpg)
Security at the airport had been heightened earlier, with both police and military personnel ensuring the venue was prepared for the arrival of the Kenya Airways flight carrying Odinga’s remains from India.
The directive is part of the government’s coordinated national mourning efforts honoring Raila’s legacy and contribution to Kenya’s democracy.
The Kenya Airports Authority personnel made repeated appeals for calm, but their efforts were drowned by the cries of mourners desperate to catch a glimpse of the casket. Tension heightened when the coffin, draped in the Kenyan flag, was brought out of the plane, prompting louder wails across the tarmac.
The ceremonial gun carriage, freshly polished and gleaming, awaited to bear the casket draped in the national flag. Security personnel maintained tight control around the airport, with members of the public kept at a distance to prevent commotion as emotions ran high among supporters gathered outside.
Armed police and military officers have cordoned off all access routes to the facility, with checkpoints mounted along Valley Road and Argwings Kodhek Road. Only selected family members, authorised government officials, and accredited personnel are being allowed entry.
Ruto, who arrived shortly after 9:08 am, is leading the country’s leadership in welcoming the remains of the opposition leader who passed away on Wednesday morning while undergoing treatment in India. His Deputy, Kithure Kindiki, was among the first senior government officials to reach the airport to oversee the final arrangements for the solemn reception.
