The National Steering Committee on the late Raila Odinga's First Anniversary Commemoration announced that his family will lead the official candle-lighting ceremony in honour of the late former prime minister on October 14, 2026. The ceremony will take place at his family home in Kang'o Ka'Jaramogi. The committee made the announcement through its vice chairman, Otiende Amolo, who is also the Member of Parliament for Rarieda.
Otiende Amolo made the announcement in the presence of the late Odinga's widow, Ida Odinga, and eldest daughter, Rosemary Odinga. The family-led candle lighting ceremony will also mark the official start of the late Odinga's first death anniversary celebrations. This move comes amid intense preparations by the ODM party to light candles across the country in honour of its late founding leader.
The Rarieda MP's remarks at Kang'o Ka'Jaramogi add to a series of statements the Raila family has made regarding his first anniversary celebration. The family appears to be pushing the late Odinga's ODM party away from the centre of the events to celebrate the late opposition leader's death anniversary. Last month, ODM announced a series of events, including rallies across the country, to honour the life of its late leader Raila Odinga.
However, the family, in a widely shared statement, seemed to differ with the late Odinga's party. They insisted that the ceremonies to honour Odinga would be inclusive and family-led, not merely ODM events. The family went ahead to form a national steering committee led by Raila's long-time technocrat and advisor Adams Oloo. Other committee members included ODM's nominated senator Crystal Asige and Siaya governor James Orengo.
The formation of the national steering committee by the Raila family further indicates a divergence in the planning of the anniversary celebrations. The committee members are from various political backgrounds, indicating an effort to make the celebrations inclusive. This development may affect the ODM party's plans to hold a nationwide candle lighting exercise.
ODM had announced plans to hold rallies and candle lighting ceremonies across the country to honour Raila Odinga. However, with the Raila family taking the lead in organizing the official candle lighting ceremony, it remains to be seen how the party's plans will unfold. The late Odinga's first death anniversary celebrations are expected to be a significant event in Kenyan politics.
The late Raila Odinga's mausoleum, which has been under construction in Kang'o, will also be officially opened and handed over during the state ceremony. The National Steering Committee on the late Raila Odinga's First Anniversary Commemoration is working to ensure that the anniversary celebrations are a success. The committee's efforts aim to honour the late former prime minister and provide a platform for reflection on his legacy.
Key points
- The Raila family will lead the official candle lighting ceremony on October 14, 2026.
- The ceremony will take place at the family home in Kang'o Ka'Jaramogi.
- The ODM party had planned a nationwide candle lighting exercise, but the Raila family's move may affect those plans.
