Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced that the government will restrict attendance at the final burial ceremony of veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga at Kang’o Kajaramogi in Siaya County.
Only a limited number of about 500 mourners will be permitted at the gravesite during the final rites.
Speaking on Sunday morning at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University ahead of the funeral service, CS Murkomen said the decision was made after consultations with the National Security Council and the Odinga family to ensure a peaceful and well-organized ceremony.
Government Imposes Attendance Limits for Raila Odinga’s Final Rites. Photo: Courtesy.
He explained that crowd control measures were necessary given the large number of mourners and dignitaries expected to attend.
The CS urged members of the public to adhere to government directives and respect the family’s wishes, noting that the restricted access would allow the Odinga family to conduct their traditional and religious rites in a private and dignified manner.
The developments come amid heightened security across Siaya County, particularly in Bondo town, where specialised units from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), the National Police Service (NPS), and the National Youth Service (NYS) have been deployed to maintain order and manage traffic flow.
On Saturday, Raila Odinga’s widow, Mama Ida Odinga, appealed to supporters of the former Prime Minister to remain peaceful ahead of his burial, as large crowds continued streaming into the lakeside town.
Speaking at the family’s Opoda Farm home, Ida urged mourners to maintain calm, noting that the burial would be attended by numerous high-profile guests.
The former Prime Minister is expected to be laid to rest beside his father’s mausoleum at Kang’o Kajaramogi in Siaya County.
The burial ceremony, which will be private and limited to the public, will be presided over by Anglican Church Bishop David Kodia.
