Court declines application to stop Raila Odinga’s burial
A Nairobi High Court has declined to halt the burial ceremony of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at his ancestral Bondo Home in Siaya County.
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The court’s order comes after Michael Onyango Otieno filed an application on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the Milimani High Court, Constitutional and Human Rights Division, seeking a court to declare burying the former prime minister within 72 hours unconstitutional.
“A declaration that the burial of the late Rt Honourable Raila Amolo Odinga within 72 hours violates Article 44 of the Constitution, 2010,” Onyango states in his application.
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Further, Onyango wanted the court to stop the burial, arguing that it is against the Luo culture to bury a man in such a short period after his death without following the laid-down community customs and traditions.
“The arrangements do not factor in the late Rt. Raila Odinga’s stature as a huge adherent to the traditions of the Luo community, including aspects such as ‘tero yuak’, which is critical to the interment of men of Luo descent,” Onyango states in his application.
The petitioner also avers that the alleged wishes of the deceased to be buried within 72 hours have not been corroborated by any witnesses.
Issuing the orders, Justice Chacha Mwita has stated that the petitioner (Onyango) has not convinced the court on the grounds it should stop the burial of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
“I am not satisfied with the urgency of this matter. The applicant has not demonstrated that the process is being undertaken contrary to the wishes of the deceased to enable this court to act on the request for conservatory orders,” Judge Mwita ruled.
The matter will be mentioned on October 23, 2025, for further directions.
