The City of Kisumu is buzzing with an energy that goes beyond ordinary political fervour. What unfolded in Nairobi has been described by many as merely a trailer to the raw, overwhelming grief and honor being shown by the people of the lakeside region. As the ‘Son of the Soil’, the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, makes his final journey home, Kisumu is serving as the emotional heart of the farewell.
The night of 17th October 2025 saw a massive public outpouring of emotion as a candlelight ceremony swept through the city. Thousands of mourners abandoned their usual evening activities to light candles and hold an impromptu vigil, turning the streets into a sea of flickering lights. This was not a state-organised event, but a spontaneous, deeply personal show of respect from his most fervent base.
“He was our hope, our shield. Tonight, we show him that his light will never go out,” one resident said.
The sheer number of people who turned up for the vigil underscored the profound connection between the late leader and his people. The overwhelming turnout cemented the feeling that, for Nyanza, this is more than a state funeral, it is a family’s final tribute to their patriarch Raila Amolo Odinga.
Attention now turns to the official public viewing ceremony. Originally planned for Moi Stadium, the venue has been swiftly upgraded to the larger Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu.
The public viewing is currently ongoing, this being the last opportunity for a direct farewell before the cortege proceeds to Bondo, Siaya County.
Military personels and the police are on the ground to manage the expected tens of thousands of mourners and ensure a peaceful exercise, following chaotic scenes witnessed in the capital.
Local leaders have been appealing for calm, urging residents to honour the departed statesman with dignity and decorum.
Following the public viewing in Kisumu, the body will be airlifted to Mr Odinga’s ancestral home in Bondo, Siaya County.
The body will lie overnight at his homestead, allowing the family and community to hold a private vigil.
The culmination of the week-long national mourning will be the final funeral service and burial, which will take place on Sunday, 19th October.
The events in Kisumu and Siaya mark a poignant closure for a man whose political life was indelibly linked to the region he proudly called home.
By Erastus Omondi
