Africa-Press – Kenya. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has reaffirmed that the state funeral service for the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will be held on Friday, October 17, at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
Kindiki said the service, which will begin at 9 am, is expected to draw local and international dignitaries, including several heads of state and government.
“All guests are required to be seated by 8am. This two-hour state event will comprise military honours, a church sermon from the Anglican Church of Kenya, eulogy by the family, designated condolences, and speeches from the leadership of Kenya and foreign heads of state and government,” he said.
Kindiki, who is also the co-chair of the National State Funeral Committee confirmed that the government has received formal condolences from leaders across the East African region, Africa, and other continents, underscoring Raila’s global stature.
“We have received confirmation of attendance of a fairly significant number of foreign heads of delegations at the highest level,” Kindiki said.
Following the state funeral, members of the public will have another opportunity to view Raila’s body at Nyayo Stadium.
“Those who want to continue mourning our departed leader have no cause to worry. We will stretch that opportunity from around 12 o’clock noon to as far as possible to give the highest number of mourners a chance to pay their last respects,” he added.
The government has also declared Friday, October 17, a public holiday to allow Kenyans to mourn Raila conveniently.
Kindiki noted that the committee’s co-chair, Senator Oburu Oginga, was away in Siaya and had sent his apologies, but was represented by his sister, Wenwa Akinyi Oginga, alongside other family members.
He said that the next briefing by the National State Funeral Committee will take place on Friday at 6.30 pm.
A state funeral is a public ceremony held to honour individuals of national significance, such as heads of state or other prominent leaders and often includes military honours and opportunities for the public to pay their respects.
Earlier, security officers were forced to swing into action after a section of mourners turned unruly ahead of the late Raila’s body viewing ceremony.
Tension flared when some attendees began throwing twigs toward the VIP dais in protest over delays in allowing them to view the body. Some were also seen throwing the plastic seats to the officers.
The crowd, which had escorted the motorcade carrying the casket from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, became impatient after hours of waiting. Joint teams of General Service Unit (GSU) and anti-riot police swiftly responded, firing teargas canisters to restore order.
Plainclothes personnel from the Presidential Escort Unit also joined in and were seen beating up some individuals in the terraces as chaos erupted briefly.
Raila will be laid to rest next to his mother, Mary Juma, as per his wishes. The mother died on November 5, 1984, while Raila was being detained at Shimo la Tewa Prison, and he never got a chance to pay his last respects.
President Ruto declared seven days of national mourning following the death of the former Prime Minister. During the mourning period, the national flag will fly at half-mast across the country and at all Kenyan missions abroad in honour of the ODM leader, who passed away in India on Wednesday.
“As a mark of respect, I have postponed all my public engagements for the coming days to join the nation in this period of mourning and deep reflection,” Ruto said.
The former Prime Minister, who as opposition leader ran for President five times without success between 1997 and 2022, had suffered a heart attack, the Devamatha Hospital in the southern Indian state of Kerala confirmed.
He was widely seen as a champion of democracy and political reform in Kenya.
From the 1980s he opposed the one-party rule under President Moi, pressed for human rights and endured detention, torture and exile.
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