Following the death of former Prime Minister the late Raila Odinga on Wednesday earlier this week, President William Ruto officially announced his untimely passing and set off a series of activities till his final send off.
Amongst those, the Commander in Chief declared that Raila would be accorded a State Funeral with full military honours, a period of national mourning and the lowering of the national flag at half mast across the country.
According to military protocols, state honours are reserved to Presidents and prominent Kenyans who have been accorded respect.
The late Odinga joins the list of prominent Kenyans including the late Michael Kijana Wamalwa, Wangari Mathai to receive this unusual highest honour
What do the Military Honours entail?
Overseen by KDF, the ceremony involves a military procession to the location where the event occurs.
The casket of the deceased is draped in the National Flag and escorted in gun carriage flanked by officers and family members to Parliament Buildings where the sitting President leads Kenyans in viewing the body.
Ceremonial guards of honour by uniformed KDF troops tasked in guarding the body escorts the late and proceed on a lap of honour where the final burial rites take place.
Nyayo Stadium Farewell
The former Premier was today (Wednesday) accorded the treatment of a five-Star General, the highest military rank in Kenya by the Kenya Defence Forces.
President William Ruto accompanied by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, top Government officials and other dignitaries paid their respects at Parliament.
Thousands of Kenyans have also joined the family at Nyayo Stadium to bid farewell to Kenya’s most influential political figure whose journey spanned more than six decades.
