The Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, has announced the deployment of 36 ambulances to provide emergency medical coverage during the reception of the body of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday, October 16, 2025.
Dr. Oluga said the ambulances are fully equipped with Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) facilities. Each unit will have a paramedic, a nurse, and a driver to ensure efficient on-site emergency response and safe patient evacuation where necessary.
According to Dr. Oluga, the Kenya Red Cross has deployed 20 ambulances, St. John Ambulance has provided four, Nairobi Disaster Service three, Nairobi Emergency Services eight, and Kenyatta National Hospital one. A Port Health ambulance will remain on standby at JKIA to offer supplementary medical assistance and coordinate with other emergency response teams.
The PS added that similar mobilization efforts are underway in Kisumu and Siaya Counties to ensure comprehensive medical preparedness as the national funeral arrangements continue.
The body of Raila Odinga arrived at JKIA on Thursday morning at 9:30 am aboard a Kenya Airways flight from Mumbai, India. President William Ruto led senior government officials in receiving the body before it was transferred to Lee Funeral Home at around 10:00 am for preservation and preparation.
Later in the day, the body will be taken to Parliament Buildings at noon for public viewing, where Kenyans will have an opportunity to pay their last respects. In the evening, it will be moved to his Karen residence for an overnight vigil.
According to the official burial programme released by the National Funeral Committee, Raila’s final journey will feature state, national, and public events spanning four days — from Thursday, October 16, to Sunday, October 19, 2025.
On Friday, October 17, a State Funeral Service will be held at Nyayo National Stadium starting at 8:00 am, followed by a procession to his Karen home for an overnight vigil.
On Saturday, October 18, the body will be transported to Kisumu, where it will lie in state at Moi Stadium from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm for public viewing. The cortege will then proceed to Bondo, Siaya County, for an overnight stay ahead of the burial ceremony.
The final funeral service and burial rites will take place on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at his Bondo home in Siaya County.
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