Speaker Wetang’ula sets date for National Assembly tribute to Raila Odinga
By Mabonga Makhanu, October 15, 2025Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula has set Thursday, October 16, 2025, as the official date for Members of Parliament to mourn the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
This decision followed a motion of adjournment moved by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and seconded by Minority Leader Junet Mohammed on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
The motion led to the adjournment of the Wednesday sitting to Thursday morning, when lawmakers will gather to pay tribute to Raila Odinga, who passed away in India while receiving treatment.
According to the speaker’s directive, the House will convene at 10:00 am on Thursday for the special session dedicated to honouring Raila’s legacy.
The sitting will also be extended into the afternoon session from 2:30 pm until midnight to allow all members ample time to deliver their tributes.
“Two, adjourn until tomorrow. Thursday, 16th October 2025, at 10 am, three, extend its afternoon. Sitting time tomorrow, Thursday, 16th October 2025, is at 2:30 pm until midnight. Four records its tribute by way of exceptional motion.” Wetangula stated
The tributes will be recorded through an exceptional motion exempted from the usual House resolutions that limit debate time on motions.
Adjournment of the morning session
This came after a similar morning session was adjourned to the afternoon as members struggled to come to terms with the sudden death of Raila Odinga. Some MPs broke down during the morning sitting, with Mishi Mboko seen being held and led out of the House in tears.
Many members were preparing to head to Raila’s Karen residence, as the shocking news reached them while they were already in Parliament for the morning session.
President William Ruto has named both Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and his Minority counterpart Junet Mohammed as part of the delegation that will accompany Ida Odinga and the family to India to repatriate the remains of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Raila Odinga passed away on Wednesday morning during his routine morning walk while in the company of his daughter and sister in India, where he had gone for medical treatment.
Ruto’s directives after Raila’s demise
The president has ordered a seven-day mourning period, during which flags in all Kenyan embassies and diplomatic offices will fly at half-mast. The late former prime minister will be accorded a state funeral with full military honours.