Burial Details Emerge Amidst National Mourning

The late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will be interred on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at his ancestral home in Kang'o ka Jaramogi, Bondo, Siaya County. The burial will be a private affair, attended by a select few, as confirmed by his elder brother and Siaya Senator, Dr. Oburu Odinga. This decision aligns with the family's wishes to provide a dignified send-off for the revered statesman. Grave digging commenced on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 7:04 PM EAT, at a site five meters from his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga's mausoleum.

A Shift in Final Wishes and Luo Traditions

While Raila Odinga had expressed a wish to be buried next to his late mother, Mary Juma Odinga, who passed away in 1984, the grave site has been moved to be near his father's mausoleum. This adjustment ensures his interment alongside his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya's first Vice President. The burial ceremony will incorporate both Anglican Church traditions and significant Luo rituals, honouring Odinga's status as a respected Luo elder and statesman.

Historical and Political Context

Raila Odinga, a towering figure in Kenya's political landscape, passed away on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in Kerala, India, at the age of 80, due to a heart attack. President William Ruto declared seven days of national mourning and announced that Odinga would be accorded a state funeral with full honours, recognising his immense contributions to Kenya's democracy. The state funeral programme began with the repatriation of his body, which arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 8:30 AM EAT. President Ruto and other top government officials received the remains.

A state funeral service is scheduled for Friday, October 17, 2025, at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, expected to draw local and international dignitaries. The government has declared Friday, October 17, 2025, a public holiday in his honour. On Saturday, October 18, 2025, the body will be flown to Kisumu for a public viewing at Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM EAT, before being transported by road to his Bondo home for an overnight vigil.

Luo Burial Customs and Significance

Luo customs dictate specific burial rites, including the traditional announcement of death (Tero Ywak), body preparations, and night vigils (arita). For men, the grave is typically dug on the right side of the main house. Elders or clan leaders oversee the ceremony, including prayers, speeches, and traditional blessings. The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum, located in Kang'o ka Jaramogi, is a significant historical site that also serves as a museum, exhibiting artifacts related to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Luo culture.

Governance and Stakeholders

A National Committee for the State Funeral of Raila Odinga, co-chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, was formed to coordinate all funeral arrangements. The committee includes various Cabinet Secretaries and family members. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has appointed Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga as the interim party leader.

Evidence/Data Box

• Date of Death: Wednesday, October 15, 2025
• Cause of Death: Heart attack
• Age at Death: 80 years
• Body Repatriation: Arrived at JKIA on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 8:30 AM EAT
• State Funeral Service: Friday, October 17, 2025, at Nyayo National Stadium
• Public Holiday: Friday, October 17, 2025
• Public Viewing (Kisumu): Saturday, October 18, 2025, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM EAT at Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds
• Burial Date: Sunday, October 19, 2025
• Burial Location: Kang'o ka Jaramogi, Bondo, Siaya County
• Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum Opening: January 20, 1995

Unanswered Questions and Controversies

The specific individuals designated to attend the private burial ceremony have not been disclosed. While Odinga's final wish was to be buried next to his mother, the decision to inter him near his father's mausoleum has been made by the family. This deviation from his stated wish has not been publicly elaborated upon beyond the family's announcement.

What to Watch Next

Kenyans will observe the state funeral service at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, October 17, 2025, and the public viewing in Kisumu on Saturday, October 18, 2025. The nation will then turn its attention to the private burial ceremony in Bondo on Sunday, October 19, 2025, as a final farewell to a pivotal figure in its history. The transition of leadership within the Orange Democratic Movement, following Senator Oburu Odinga's appointment as interim party leader, will also be closely watched.