As final preparations for the state funeral of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga near completion, leaders from across Nyanza have appealed for peace, unity, and discipline during the mourning period.
Speaking in Bondo on Friday, October 17, 2025, Nyanza Regional Commissioner Flora Mworoa urged residents to honour Raila’s legacy with dignity, warning against any attempts to disrupt the solemn occasion.
“We are mourning our departed hero and calling upon our people to be peaceful. That is all we are asking. We have information that some political elements are planning to disrupt these activities. We know them, and we know what they are planning,” Mworoa cautioned.
She noted that a series of high-level security meetings have been held to ensure smooth coordination and order throughout the funeral period.
“This is not the time to show supremacy or popularity. We urge our young people not to allow themselves to be used. We are here to honour our leader, and we must do so with respect,” she added.
The late Raila’s body will lie in state at Mamboleo Stadium in Kisumu on Saturday, October 18, before being transported to his Bondo home for burial. Authorities have urged mourners to arrive early and follow security guidance to avoid the logistical congestion witnessed in Nairobi earlier in the week.
“Let what happened in Nairobi not happen here in Nyanza. We must finish the viewing in time and bring the body home with dignity,” Mworoa said.
Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi echoed the call for calm, emphasizing the importance of hospitality and national unity as visitors from across Kenya and beyond gather in Bondo.
“We must be good hosts. This is not a time for politics. Leaders should come with humility to mourn Raila and give him a befitting send-off,” Atandi stated, while thanking President William Ruto for granting Raila a state funeral an honour previously reserved for former presidents.
Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda described the funeral as a “historic and unprecedented event,” noting that the scale of organization within a short timeframe underscored the national significance of Raila’s life and legacy.
“We want total peace. Let’s reduce the dramatic mourning that resembles demonstrations. This funeral cannot be equated to any other in our region,” he said, warning against individuals seeking to exploit the ceremony for political mileage.
“If you are coming here with your own agenda, please stay away. We want to bury Raila with the honour he deserves, not chaos,” Ochanda concluded.
