President William Ruto today led Kenyans in public viewing of the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Nairobi, on Thursday.
Mr Odinga’s spouse Mama Ida Odinga and his children, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Chief of Kenya Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri and Service Commanders were the next in line and in that order.
Others who viewed Mr Odinga’s body were Cabinet Secretaries, Orange Democratic Party (ODM) leaders, Principal Secretaries and MPs, among others.
Some of the ODM leaders included Governors Abdullahi Ahmed (Wajir and chair of the Council of Governors), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), James Orengo (Siaya), Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Simba Arati (Kisii), Fernandes Barasa (Kakamega) and Abdulswamad Shariff (Mombasa).
Others were National Assembly Minority Leader, Junet Mohammed, George Aladwa (Makadara) and Migori Senator Eddy Okech, among others.
One by one, the leaders filed past Mr Odinga’s body quietly reflecting on their personal friendship with the departed leader.
Mr Odinga, 80, passed away on Wednesday in India, where he had been receiving treatment.
Mr Odinga served as Kenya’s Prime Minister between 2008 and 2013 and as Kibera MP between 1992 and 2013.
Consequently, President Ruto declared a seven-day national mourning period and sent a high-ranking government team to repatriate his body from India.
Mr Odinga’s body landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport aboard a Kenya Airways plane and was received by President Ruto.
Thousands of Mr Odinga’s supporters thronged the airport to receive his body and accompanied him in a day-long journey as the military hearse made its way to Kasarani Stadium.
A requiem mass will be held for Mr Odinga tomorrow in Nairobi. On Saturday, the body will be flown to Kisumu on Saturday morning for public viewing in the city.
He will be buried on Sunday at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya, beside his father, Independence struggle hero and Kenya’s first Vice-President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
