Ofure Akhigbe
The remains of former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga arrived in Nairobi on Thursday morning, ahead of his state funeral. The aircraft transporting his body landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at approximately 9:30 a.m.
Odinga, who died on October 15, 2025, in India, will be laid to rest at his Bondo home on Sunday. Family members and government officials gathered in India late Wednesday to pay their final respects before the body was flown back to Kenya.
The late Odinga, 80, was a towering figure in Kenyan politics, remembered for his relentless fight for multiparty democracy in the 1990s—a struggle that saw him endure several detentions without trial. He served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013 and was a five-time presidential candidate, often playing a central role both in government and in the opposition.
President William Ruto has declared a seven-day national mourning period, during which flags will fly at half-mast across the country. In his tribute, Ruto described Odinga’s death as “an immense and immeasurable loss” and confirmed that he will be accorded full state funeral honours.