The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
A wave of emotion swept through Nyayo National Stadium on Friday morning as the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga arrived for the State Funeral ceremony.
The funeral cortege, escorted by military vehicles and family members, entered the stadium grounds at 9:46 a.m. through Uhuru Highway, as mourners broke into wails and chants, many waving flags and portraits of the late opposition leader.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel
The procession had begun earlier at Parliament Buildings, where military pallbearers carried Raila’s flag-draped casket out of the main entrance shortly after 9:20 a.m. A ceremonial guard of honour stood at attention as the convoy made its way through the streets of Nairobi, cheered on by crowds who lined the route, singing and waving twigs in tribute.
At Nyayo Stadium, thousands of Kenyans — joined by regional and international dignitaries — gathered to pay their last respects. President William Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and other top officials were already seated when the body arrived.
They had earlier viewed the body at Parliament alongside Raila’s family members, including his sister Ruth Odinga, daughters Winnie and Rosemary, wife Mama Ida Odinga, and long-time aide Maurice Ogeta.
The ceremony will include interfaith prayers, military honours, and musical tributes celebrating Raila’s lifelong fight for democracy and justice. Performances by choirs and cultural troupes are expected to blend grief with reflection in what many have described as a unifying moment for the nation.
Security across the capital has been heightened, with officers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Police Service (NPS), and National Youth Service (NYS) deployed at key points and multiple screening checkpoints at the stadium.
After the State Funeral, Raila’s body will be taken to his Karen home for an overnight vigil before being flown to Kisumu on Saturday morning. He will be laid to rest on Sunday at his ancestral home in Bondo, Siaya County, in accordance with his wish to be buried within 72 hours of his death.
The nation remains in mourning for the veteran statesman remembered for his courage, resilience, and unyielding pursuit of justice. As one mourner said tearfully, “Raila may be gone, but his spirit will forever walk with Kenya.”
