There was a heavy presence of security officers from different departments ahead of the all-day public viewing of the former prime minister Raila Odinga’s body at the Mamboleo Stadium in Kisumu on Saturday, October 18, 2025.

The military jet carrying the late ODM party leader’s remains touched down at the Kisumu International Airport on Saturday morning, before the body was immediately loaded onto a waiting military helicopter to the Mamboleo grounds, within the outskirts of Kisumu City.

Thousands of mourners will have a chance to give their last respect to the former premier at the stadium for the better part of Saturday before the body will be moved by road to his Bondo home, Siaya County, for burial on Sunday, October 19, 2025.

Preparations for the arrival were finalised on Friday, with the Kenya Defence Forces tasked with airlifting the body from Nairobi to Kisumu. According to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who chairs the funeral planning committee, members of the public were urged to be seated by 7:00 am to dignify the arrival. Once the body lands, it will be taken to Mamboleo Grounds for public viewing.

Oburu Odinga speaks

Meanwhile, ahead of the public body viewing exercise, Raila Odinga’s elder brother and Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga has condemned the teargassing incident witnessed at Kasarani Stadium during the public viewing and appealed for calm and dignity as Kenyans prepare to receive the body of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Kisumu on Saturday.

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 make 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 Odinga will be buried on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at his Bondo home in Siaya County.