The lakeside city of Kisumu is gearing up for an emotional and historic moment on Saturday when the body of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga arrives for public viewing at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo.
Thousands of mourners from across the Nyanza region and beyond are expected to throng the city to pay their last respects to the man whose political life shaped Kenya’s democracy for more than four decades.
The event marks the final leg of nationwide tributes that have drawn massive crowds since Raila’s death in India on Wednesday.
Authorities have heightened security preparations ahead of the viewing, with regional and county security teams assuring residents of a peaceful and well-coordinated exercise.
The move follows chaotic scenes in Nairobi on Thursday, where crowds overwhelmed security officers during a similar procession at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, National Assembly and Moi Sports Centre Kasarani.
Nyanza Regional Commissioner (RC) Flora Mworoa who led a team of regional and county security committees to assess the grounds said security agencies were on high alert to ensure that the solemn occasion proceeds without incident.
“We are here to ensure that the events of Saturday go on very well and everything is set to receive the body of the former Prime Minister. I want to take this opportunity to request residents of Kisumu and Nyanza in general, who will be here on Saturday to receive the body of our fallen hero, to be very peaceful,” she said.
“Seeing what happened in Nairobi today, we are a bit worried about lawlessness, but I believe our people here will maintain peace so that we can send off our hero in dignity,” she added.
The RC said a multi-agency security team comprising the National Police Service, county enforcement officers, and National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) has been mobilised to oversee crowd control, traffic management, and access to the stadium.
Strict screening measures will be enforced at all entry points, and emergency response teams, including ambulances and medical personnel, will be on standby throughout the event.
Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o echoed the call for calm, urging residents to demonstrate restraint and honour Raila’s legacy through peace.
“People in this region love peace. Let that be proven on Saturday, so that we don’t let down our party leader, the Right Honourable Raila Amolo Odinga, his family, the Kenyan nation, and the international community. Let us go down in history as a community that bid farewell to our leader in a dignified and civilised manner,” he said.
Kisumu City authorities have pitched tent at the stadium and surrounding roads to ensure smooth traffic flow.
Designated parking areas and holding zones have been identified to manage the anticipated influx of mourners along the Kisumu–Kakamega highway and adjoining roads.
For many, Saturday’s event is not just a political farewell but a personal moment of grief for a man they regarded as a father figure and freedom champion.
After the Kisumu viewing, Raila’s body will be taken to his ancestral home in Bondo, Siaya County, where final rites and burial are scheduled for Sunday.
Raila Odinga, 80, was a central figure in Kenya’s struggle for multi-party democracy and constitutional reform.
His death has plunged the nation into mourning, with tributes pouring in from across the political divide and beyond Kenya’s borders.
By Chris Mahandara
