Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has appealed to supporters and Kenyans to stop visiting the home of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Karen, Nairobi.
Sifuna explained that Raila’s residence has been overwhelmed by the large number of mourners arriving to pay their last respects, making it difficult for Mama Ida Odinga to cope with the emotional weight and continuous visits.
“I want to make a very special request, both as a leader in Nairobi and as SG of ODM — our people must now stop going to Mama Ida’s house because she is there alone and she is overwhelmed,” Sifuna said.
He revealed that ODM leadership is currently in talks to establish designated mourning centers across the country to allow Kenyans to grieve in an organized and collective manner.
“We understand the love, and in fact, discussions are underway among the leadership to set up specific points for people who wish to mourn Mzee. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in Karen,” he stated.
The ODM Secretary-General assured that further communication would be made soon to inform supporters about the official mourning points.
Raila Odinga passed away on Wednesday morning while undergoing treatment in India, as confirmed by the family.
A delegation led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, together with Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen and Hassan Joho, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, and Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, is set to travel to India to coordinate the repatriation of Raila’s remains.
Condolences have continued to pour in from Kenyan and international leaders, hailing Raila as a symbol of democracy and resilience.
President William Ruto described the late ODM leader as a “towering statesman” whose lifelong service shaped modern Kenya.
As part of the national mourning period, Ruto directed that all top government officials stop flying the national flag on their official vehicles until the day of Raila’s burial, and that flags be flown at half-mast across the country and in all Kenyan missions abroad.
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