Ruth Odinga expresses regret over plans to airlift Raila’s body to Bondo
By Luke Oluoch, October 18, 2025Raila Odinga’s sister, Ruth Odinga, has expressed regret over the change of plans to ferry Raila Odinga’s remains to Bondo by air
Speaking at Raila’s ancestral home in Opoda farm on Saturday, October 18, 2025, Ruth decried the missed opportunity for the massive crowd that hoped to catch a glimpse of Raila’s remains while on the road from Kisumu to Bondo.
“I wish they could have put him on the road instead of the chopper up to here. How we walked with Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. We walked from Nairobi to Kisumu with him. I wish they had done the same with Raila,” she stated.
She has, however, expressed that the change of plan would not deter mourners from visiting the farm for Raila’s final rights.
“The roads are full, the people are coming. People are on their way; they will be here,” she added.
Her remarks follow after the government confirmed further alteration on how Raila’s remains would reach his home at Opoda farm in Bondo.
Initially, there was a last-minute change in the transportation of the former Prime Minister’s body from the Kisumu International Airport to the Mamboleo Grounds on the outskirts of Kisumu.
The body was to go by road to Mamboleo before it was loaded onto a waiting Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) military helicopter to Mamboleo for public viewing, denying thousands of mourners who had lined up the road a chance to accord the fallen hero their last respect.
Speaking during a press briefing on Friday, October 17, 2025, Oburu called on mourners to uphold peace and respect as they pay their final respects to a man he described as deeply loved by his people.
“I appeal to our people to be peaceful. I know the pain you feel, but this is not the time to do anything that could cause harm to our people,” Oburu said, his tone heavy with emotion. “We want to behave with dignity. We want our people to respect this occasion because Raila loved them so much, and they should also treat his send-off with dignity,” Oburu added.
Raila’s burial will take place in Bondo, Siaya County, on Sunday, October 19, 2025.