NAIROBI, KENYA 15 October 2025— Kenya’s veteran opposition leader and former Prime Minister, Raila Amolo Odinga, will be accorded a State Funeral with full military honours, President William Ruto announced today in a Presidential Proclamation issued at State House, Nairobi.
The declaration follows the passing of the Right Honourable Odinga, who died earlier this morning at the age of 80 in Kochi, India, after suffering a sudden cardiac failure while undergoing specialized treatment.
President Ruto has declared a period of national mourning for the political giant, effective immediately until sunset on the day of his interment.
Flag Directive and Protocols:
As a mark of respect, the President directed that the Flag of the Republic of Kenya shall be flown at half-mast across the entire territory of the Republic of Kenya, including at State House, all public buildings, public grounds, all military bases, and all Kenyan diplomatic missions abroad. This directive is to be observed until sunset on the day the former Prime Minister is laid to rest.
The Presidential Proclamation mandates that the State Funeral will include all attendant State protocols and military honours, reflecting the high esteem in which Mr. Odinga was held. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been designated to lead the team coordinating the funeral and interment arrangements.
A Legacy Honoured by the Nation:
In his proclamation, President Ruto paid a glowing tribute to Mr. Odinga, recognizing his profound influence on the country’s democratic trajectory.
“It is with deep sorrow that I inform the nation of the passing on of the Right Honourable Raila Amolo Odinga, our former Prime Minister, Kenya’s foremost statesman, and one of Africa’s greatest sons,” the Proclamation reads.
President Ruto described Odinga as a “tireless champion for social justice, a renowned Pan-Africanist, and a statesman without equal.” He further hailed the veteran politician as the “father of our democracy” and a “torchbearer in our march toward the Constitution of Kenya, 2010,” which ushered in a new era of political reforms.
The State Funeral is seen as a unifying gesture, recognizing a man who, despite spending decades in opposition and challenging the status quo, remained a central and defining figure in the nation’s history. His death is expected to trigger a significant period of political realignment within Kenya.
