The State Funeral Service of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was conducted at a fully-packed Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, October 17.
The event was attended by President William Ruto, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, heads of states, and delegations of dignitaries sent to represent heads of states and governments from around the world.
Addressing the nation later in the evening, the National State Funeral Committee thanked Kenyans who turned up at the Nyayo National Stadium for exhibiting high level of organisation, and maintaining peace throughout while paying Raila the last respect.
The committee, through co-chairperson, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, also noted with appreciation the many world leaders who brought not only their presence — for those who came physically — but also many leaders who sent their messages of condolences formally.
DP Kindiki says that Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs received condolences from;
- Tanzania President Samia Suluhu – who also sent a delegation led by Vice President Philip Mpango and former President Jakaya Kikwete,
- Uganda President Yoweri Museveni,
- Rwanda President Paul Kagame – who also sent his Minister of Interior,
- Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who came in person,
- Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed,
- Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh,
- Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema,
- Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
- Ghana President John Mahama,
- Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye,
- Sierra Leone President Maada Julius Bio,
- Zimbabwe President Emerson Mnangagwa,
- Gambia President Adama Barrow,
- South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa,
- India Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
- DRC President Phelix Tshisekedi,
- Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (King of Saudi Arabia),
- Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman,
- Government of France,
- Minister of State for Development of the United Kingdom Jennifer Chapman,
- United Nations Secretary General Antonio Gutierrez,
- Mohamoud Ali Youssouf (African Union Commission Chairperson),
- The European Union,
- Executive Secretary of IGAD Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu,
- WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,
- Executive Secretary for UN Commission for Africa Claver Gatete,
- Assistant Secretary-General of Commonwealth of Nations Luis Franceschi,
- East African Community Secretary-General Veronica Nduva,
- Chairman of U.S Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Jim Risch,
- Embassies of Italy, Australia, Canada, Russian Federation, China, and
- South Sudan Vice President Rebecca Garang.
After the state funeral, thousands of mourners, members of the public, supporters of the late Raila got an opportunity to view his body and also pay their last respect.
“We are very pleased that the public viewing exercise which just ended a few minutes to 5 pm has continued and ended peacefully, solemnly and in utmost dignity, not withstanding that there were thousands of people who patiently queued, waited, performed their respect and left the stadium,” DP Kindiki noted.
Journey to Kisumu
On Saturday, October 18, the mortal remains of Raila will be airlifted to Mamboleo Grounds in Kisumu by the Kenya Defence Forces, arriving at around 8 am.
Members of the public are requested to be settled at the venue by 7 am. There will be public viewing of the body for the most of the day, “until we are satisfied everyone has had a chance to respect our leader.”
Thereafter, the body will be taken to Bondo for an overnight stay before the burial on Sunday, October 19.
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