Kenya, 19 October 2025 - Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was laid to rest on Sunday at his family’s mausoleum in Nyamira village, Bondo, Siaya County, in a ceremony attended by President William Ruto.
Odinga, 80, was buried besides his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first Vice President and an independence hero.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) honoured the late opposition leader with a 17-gun salute — a rare military tribute reserved for retired heads of state and former prime ministers.
The burial followed a week of national mourning that began after Odinga’s death in India on Wednesday, 15 October 2025.
Earlier on Sunday, a funeral service was held at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), where national and international leaders eulogised him as a patriot, statesman, and pan-Africanist.
In his tribute, President Ruto described Odinga as a political mentor and a long-time colleague.
He recalled their shared history since 1997 when he entered Parliament as the MP for Eldoret North.
“I am very proud that Odinga is resting when a man he mentored is the President of Kenya,” said President Ruto.
“It did not matter to me the outcome of the 2022 elections. It was an election between [Raila] Odinga and his student.”
The President revealed that shortly after the 2022 General Election, he sought out Odinga to thank him for what he described as “enormous personal and family sacrifices” made in the interest of the country.
According to President Ruto, this engagement formed the basis for the inclusion of Odinga’s ODM party members in his government, including appointments to the Cabinet and other senior roles.
Mama Ida Odinga thanked Kenyans and the international community for their support during the mourning period. She also thanked President Ruto for granting her late husband a dignified send-off.
“I never imagined that this would fall on me — to bury [Raila] Odinga. I had hoped it would be the other way round,” she said.
“Mr President, my family is grateful to you for being a man of your word.”
The President said he had faced pressure to deny Odinga a State Funeral with military honours, but insisted on recognising him as the “people’s president” who deserved full national honours.
Also in attendance were former Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
Obasanjo described Odinga as a close friend and continental ally, saying, “I’ve lost a brother, a friend, a confidant, and a co-worker in the vineyard of Africa.”
Mr Kenyatta, who while leaving office supported Odinga candidature, urged Kenyans to honour his legacy by upholding the democratic values he fought for throughout his life.
“We shall miss your insights, your thoughtfulness, your wisdom, and your laughter,” Mr Kenyatta said.
President Ruto revealed that he had closely monitored Odinga’s health in recent weeks.
He said he had provided a plane to facilitate his treatment in India after consultations with Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga.
“I looked for him when he fell ill. The last month and a half was difficult. Every time I met him, his voice was hoarse, and he kept telling me he was weak from medication,” Dr Ruto said.
The President also pledged to protect and support the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the party Mr Odinga founded, stating that he would not allow it to be destroyed.
“Baba believed in strong political parties. ODM will be part of government in 2027. We will support and keep the party united,” Dr Ruto said.
Senator Oginga confirmed that the President had offered logistical and medical support during Odinga’s illness, including the airlift to India.
Also present at the burial were governors from across the country, MPs, religious leaders, and foreign dignitaries.
Odinga’s burial marks the end of an era in Kenyan politics, closing a chapter on a career that spanned over four decades and shaped the country’s modern political history.

Raila Odinga Laid to Rest as The Military Honours Him With a 17-Gun Salute
Raila Odinga Laid to Rest in a Ceremony Attended by President Ruto, Regional Leaders