- Former Prime Minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga, will be given a state funeral in line with his status as a prominent politician
- President William Ruto announced on Wednesday, October 15, when he officially announced Raila’s death
- Raila died on Wednesday morning in India; he was there on a medical trip
ODM leader Raila Odinga a national funeral will be organized with all the honors befitting a national leader.
Source: Getty Images
President William Ruto announced this in an official announcement on Wednesday afternoon, October 15, the day Raila died.
How will Kenya mourn Raila Odinga?
The President announced that Kenyans will observe seven days of mourning in honor of the second prime minister of Kenya.
During the mourning, the national flag will fly at half-mast in all designated institutions and centers in the country and Kenyan missions abroad.
At the same time, government officials were prevented from flying the national flag on their vehicles.
“The nation will observe a period of national mourning from today until the sunset of the day of his burial. Prime Minister Raila Odinga will be given a State Funeral, with military honors and government protocols being given and observed,” the announcement read in part.
“That the flag of the Republic of Kenya shall be flown at half-mast in the State House and all embassies of Kenya, public buildings and public squares, all military bases, stations and stations on all naval ships of the Republic of Kenya, and in any other place throughout the territory of the Republic of Kenya, from today until sunset on the day of his interview; by the deputy president, deputy president. justice, Cabinet secretaries, Speaker of the National Assembly, Speaker of the Senate, Kenyan diplomats abroad, and anyone else who is authorized by law, will not fly the national flag on their official vehicles from today until sunset on the day of his burial,” it added.
Who is given a state funeral in Kenya?
State funerals in Kenya are reserved for prominent people who have served the nation with exceptional results in various fields of national importance.
This includes current or former heads of state, respected professionals such as academics, religious leaders, environmentalists, medical experts, technicians, and renowned musicians who die of natural causes.
The ceremonies are held in public and usually coincide with an official holiday to honor the deceased.
They follow strict religious and military traditions, which mark the grandeur of the occasion.
So far, only eight people have received this honor: founding president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta (1978), former vice president Kijana Wamalwa (2003), Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai (2011), former first lady Lucy Kibaki (2016), second president Daniel Moi (2020), third president Mwai Kibaki (2022), former chief of defense forces of Francis Kima Kima (2022); Ogola. Mukami was the wife of Mau Mau freedom fighter Dedan Kimathi.
Raila’s body will lie in repose in a yet to be announced state institution for the country to pay its respects.
Source: Facebook
What you need to know about Raila Odinga
- The whereabouts of the ODM leader raised concerns on October 5 when his secretariat issued a statement denying claims that he had fallen ill.
- Photos of him would later emerge in India looking very happy, just after his elder brother, Senator Oburu Odinga, confirmed that the ODM leader had been sacked.
- On October 15, Raila’s worst fears were confirmed; that he succumbed to heart problems at the Indian station.
Who will bring Raila Odinga’s body home?
During his announcement, the president ordered a delegation of government officials to accompany the bereaved family to India to prepare for the repatriation of Raila’s remains.
The delegation will be managed by the Prime Minister Stay Mudavadi.
Others in the team are the Minister of Internal Affairs Dating MurkomenMinister of Mines Hassan Joho, leader of the majority in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wah, leader of the minority Junet Mohamed and family members, led by Siaya senator Oburu Oginga, who is Raila’s brother, and Mama Ida Odinga who is now a widow.
Ruto revealed that the repatriation of Raila’s body to Kenya will be coordinated by the Indian government.
At the same time, the Deputy President Kithur Kindiki he will be the chairman of the committee tasked with organizing the national funeral.
The President announced that he will suspend his official commitments to attend to the sorrows that are befalling the country.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
