Bondo, Kenya —
As the late Raila Odinga’s body made its way to his ancestral home in Bondo, his sister, Ruth Odinga, voiced regret over the government’s decision to airlift the remains instead of transporting them by road.
Speaking at the family’s Opoda farm on Saturday, October 18, 2025, Ruth said the change robbed thousands of mourners lining the route from Kisumu of a final chance to say goodbye to the man they affectionately called Baba.
“I wish they could have put him on the road instead of the chopper up to here,” she said, recalling her memories of walking alongside her father, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, during his funeral procession decades earlier. “We walked from Nairobi to Kisumu with him. I wish they had done the same with Raila.”
Her words struck a chord with many across the region, reflecting the public’s yearning for one last shared moment with the former Prime Minister, whose political journey had long been intertwined with the people’s struggles and triumphs.
Despite her disappointment, Ruth remained hopeful that mourners would still gather at the homestead to pay their respects.
“The roads are full, the people are coming. People are on their way; they will be here,” she added.
A shift in plans
Government officials confirmed earlier that Raila’s remains would be airlifted from Kisumu to Bondo for security and logistical reasons. The change came after a similar adjustment on Friday, when the route from Kisumu International Airport to Mamboleo Grounds was altered at the last minute.
Initially, the body was to travel by road before being placed aboard a Kenya Defence Forces helicopter for public viewing at Mamboleo. The decision left many who had lined the highway in tears, waving flags and branches as the convoy passed overhead instead of before them.
Family calls for calm
At a separate briefing, Raila’s elder brother, Senator Oburu Odinga, appealed for peace as emotions ran high across Nyanza.
“I appeal to our people to be peaceful,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion. “I know the pain you feel, but this is not the time to do anything that could cause harm to our people. We must behave with dignity. Raila loved you so much, and we should treat his send-off with the same respect.”
Raila’s burial, scheduled for Sunday, October 19, at the Odinga family home in Bondo, is expected to draw thousands, including dignitaries and international guests.
The man who championed Kenya’s democracy for decades will finally be laid to rest beside his parents at Kang’o ka Jaramogi — the place where his political journey began.