The government has declared Friday, October 17, 2025, a public holiday to honour the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.

In a Gazette Notice issued on Thursday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the day would be set aside for the nation to pay tribute to the departed leader.

“It is notified for the general information of the public that Friday, the 17th October, 2025, shall be a public holiday in honour of the departed former Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga,” the notice read in part.

The announcement comes as Kenya prepares for a four-day state funeral for the veteran politician, who died on Wednesday morning in Kochi, India. Odinga passed away at Devamatha Hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment. He was 80.

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Kenya prepares final farewell

The aircraft carrying Odinga’s body will touch down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 9:30 am on Thursday. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who led the government delegation to India, confirmed that the body will be received by President William Ruto, members of the Odinga family, and senior state officials.

The body, draped in the national flag, will be later transported to Lee Funeral Home before being moved to Parliament Buildings for public viewing. Members of the public will allowed to pay their last respects from midday to 5 pm. Large screens will be set up in major towns to allow Kenyans to follow the proceedings.

On Friday, the State Funeral Service will be held at Nyayo Stadium starting at 8 am. The event will be attended by President Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, visiting heads of state, and other dignitaries. Later in the evening, the body will be taken to Odinga’s Karen residence for an overnight vigil with close family and friends.

On Saturday, the procession will leave Nairobi for Kisumu, where the body will lie in state at Moi Stadium from 9 am to 3 pm. Thousands of mourners are expected to gather to pay their last respects before the convoy proceeds to his rural home in Bondo, Siaya County.

The burial will take place on Sunday at his Bondo home, in accordance with his wishes and the traditions of the Anglican Church of Kenya. President Ruto earlier declared a seven-day national mourning period and ordered flags to fly at half-mast.