Ruto, Uhuru, and Obasanjo Arrive at JOOUST
President William Ruto, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo have arrived at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) in Bondo, Siaya County, for the national funeral service of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.
Other top leaders in attendance include National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Members of Parliament, and various political leaders from across the country.
Their arrival came shortly after Raila’s body was brought to the venue aboard a military vehicle from his Opoda Farm home in Bondo. The convoy was escorted by police outriders and military officers as thousands of mourners lined the roads waving and singing hymns to honour the late statesman.
At JOOUST, the casket—draped in the Kenyan flag—was received by military officers and clergy amid solemn hymns and chants. The atmosphere remains emotional yet dignified as Kenyans from all walks of life gather to pay their last respects to a leader many fondly called Baba.
Security around the venue has been tightened, with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), the National Police Service, and special units deployed to maintain order. Dozens of officers were flown to Siaya County to help manage the huge crowds expected for the State Funeral.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo are on the ground coordinating security operations. They ordered the deployment of additional personnel after intelligence reports indicated that the local teams could be overwhelmed by the large turnout.
Earlier, plans to transport Raila’s body by road from Kisumu were changed to air transport due to fears of crowd congestion along the 63-kilometre route. Traffic officers have been stationed along major roads leading to Opoda Farm and the university to manage the heavy flow of vehicles, many of which have come from outside Siaya.
The funeral service, led by Bishop David Kobia, will celebrate Raila Odinga’s lifelong commitment to democracy, justice, and national unity.
Raila’s body arrived in Kisumu on Saturday morning aboard a Kenya Airways flight from India, where he died on October 15, 2025, while receiving treatment. It was later airlifted to Mamboleo grounds for public viewing before being taken to his Bondo home for an overnight vigil.
He will be laid to rest later today in a private family ceremony at Kang’o ka Jaramogi.
Born on January 7, 1945, Raila Odinga was a veteran politician who served as Kenya’s Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013 and as Member of Parliament for Lang’ata Constituency from 1992 to 2013. His passing marks the end of an era for one of Kenya’s most influential and transformative leaders.