Preparations have been finalised ahead of the arrival of the body of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga in Kisumu on Saturday morning, October 18, 2025, as the country continues to mourn the veteran opposition leader.

According to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who is the chair of the committee, the body will be airlifted to Mamboleo ground in Kisumu by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), with the arrival scheduled for 8:00 a.m.

Members of the public will be allowed to pay their respects for the better part of the day before the body will be moved to Bondo for an overnight stay.

“The body of the late Raila will be airlifted to Mamboleo ground in Kisumu by KDF, arriving at 8:00 a.m. Members of the public are to be settled by 7:00 a.m. to dignify the arrival of Raila’s body. Public viewing will be done at the Mamboleo ground for the better part of tomorrow, then the body will be taken to Bondo for an overnight stay,” Kindiki said during a press conference held on Friday, October 17, 2025.

The viewing at Mamboleo ground is expected to attract thousands of mourners from across the Nyanza region and beyond, as residents prepare to pay their last respects to a man many considered the face of Kenya’s democratic struggles.

Security arrangements have also been tightened around Kisumu and Bondo ahead of the Saturday, October 18, 2025, event. Local leaders and volunteers have been working with national agencies to ensure order and dignity throughout the ceremony.

The day’s program will mark the final leg of the national farewell for Raila Odinga, whose death has drawn tributes from leaders across Africa and beyond. His body will spend the night in Bondo, Siaya County, before the final burial on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at his Opoda home.

Kisumu residents have been urged to arrive early and maintain peace and order during the viewing. The day is expected to be one of deep emotion and reflection as Kenyans gather to celebrate the life and legacy of a man who shaped the country’s political journey for decades.