Raila Odinga to Be Accorded State Funeral with Full Military Honours
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will be accorded a State Funeral with full military honours, President William Ruto has announced.
In a presidential proclamation on Wednesday, President Ruto said Odinga would be laid to rest with the highest level of national respect, befitting his contribution to Kenya’s democracy and freedom.
“That the late Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga shall be accorded a State Funeral with military honours and the attendant state protocols being rendered and observed,” Ruto said in his address from State House, Nairobi.
The President also declared a seven-day period of national mourning to honour the late statesman. During this period, the national flag will fly at half-mast across Kenya and in all the country’s diplomatic missions abroad.
“In honour of the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga’s extraordinary contribution to our nation, I have declared a seven-day period of national mourning, during which the national flag shall fly at half-mast across the Republic of Kenya and all our missions abroad,” Ruto stated.
He expressed deep sorrow at the passing of Odinga, describing him as a “towering statesman” who dedicated his life to the struggle for freedom and democracy.
“As a mark of respect, I have postponed all my public engagements for the coming days and I ask all other public servants and leaders to do the same so that we can join the nation in this period of mourning and deep reflection,” Ruto added.
The President said Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki will lead the National Funeral Committee, while Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi will travel to India to coordinate the repatriation of Odinga’s remains.
Earlier, Ruto visited Odinga’s family at their Karen home to personally convey his condolences.
Odinga, 80, died in India after suffering a heart attack while undergoing treatment at the Koothattukulam Sreedhareeyam Ayurveda Hospital in Ernakulam. According to medical officials, he collapsed during a morning walk and was pronounced dead at Devamatha Hospital in Koothattukulam. His body has since been preserved as the family prepares an official statement.
Who Was Raila Odinga?
Raila Amolo Odinga, born on January 7, 1945, in Maseno, was one of Kenya’s most influential political figures and a symbol of the nation’s democratic struggle. The son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first Vice President, Raila’s life mirrored his father’s dedication to justice and political reform.
After earning a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from East Germany in 1970, Raila returned to Kenya, lectured at the University of Nairobi, and later founded East African Spectre Ltd. He also served as deputy director at the Kenya Bureau of Standards before fully venturing into politics.
Raila’s political journey was defined by resilience and sacrifice. He was detained for six years after being accused of involvement in the failed 1982 coup against President Daniel arap Moi. Despite torture and imprisonment, he remained steadfast in his fight for multiparty democracy, later forming the National Development Party (NDP) and later the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
His role in the 2007 post-election crisis led to a peace deal that created a coalition government with President Mwai Kibaki, where he served as Kenya’s second Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013. He also played a central role in the passage of the 2010 Constitution, which ushered in devolution and curtailed presidential powers.
Odinga ran for president five times — in 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022 — and was widely regarded as the “People’s President.” His political career was marked by his calls for electoral reforms, equity, and social justice.
In 2018, Odinga and then-President Uhuru Kenyatta made peace through the historic “Handshake,” which restored political calm and initiated the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).