From the chaos of public viewing at Kasarani on Thursday, October 16, 2025, Raila Odinga’s funeral is set to assume a more official and formal phase as state funeral services take place on Friday, October 17, 2025, the third day of mourning for the departed statesman.

According to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who serves as the chair of the State Funeral Committee for Raila Odinga, the two-hour state event, comprising military honours, reading of eulogies, and condolences to take centre stage for Nyayo, is expected to kick off at 9:00 am.

Among the major functions and rituals set to be undertaken this Friday includes:

Lying in state

The event officially kicked off on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the Moi Stadium, Kasarani, albeit on a chaotic note.

It involves placing the body of a deceased, often prominent, person in a public building for the public to pay their respects before a funeral.

Military procession

This hallmark of a state funeral practice entails a formal procession involving military involvement that will include the firing of rifles or the gun salute as a sign of final respect and tributes to a departed hero.

Already, the gun carriage has been moved from Lee funeral home to Parliament Buildings, from where it will be moved to the Nyayo National Stadium.

President William Ruto, on Monday, October 15, 2025, designated a seven-day period of national mourning moments after Raila’s death. He also declared Friday, October 17, a national holiday in honour of the departed leader.

State funeral service

The main formal service event is to be held today in Nyayo Stadium in the presence of the public.

The religious and cultural elements

According to the pronouncement by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, this will feature a requiem mass led by the Anglican Church of Kenya, which Raila religiously subscribed.

State control

The State takes full control and responsibility of the funeral in terms of structural, protocol, and dignitary arrangements.

There will also be the reading of condolences from his family, the political class, and the dignitaries present at the event.

Several heads of state are expected to jet into the country for the funeral service and Raila’s interment on Sunday, October 20, 2025, in Kano Ka Jaramogi.

In addition, the funeral committee confirmed that the public will be accorded a public viewing of the body following the tumultuous scenes in Kasarani.

The second day of Raila’s public viewing event will start at 12:00 noon.

“Those who want to continue mourning our departed leaders should have no cause for worry, as there will be another opportunity to mourn the departed leader. We will stretch from 12 o’clock to as far as possible and give the highest number of mourners the chance to pay their respect to the departed leader,” he stated.