Wanyanga and Company Advocates has written to the State Funeral Committee chaired by Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki, urging that the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga be buried in Nairobi rather than his rural home in Bondo.
In a letter marked “Very Urgent” and addressed to Prof. Kindiki through Harambee House Annex, the firm — acting on behalf of unnamed clients — appealed to the government to inter the late leader either beside Kenya’s founding father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, or at the Freedom Corner in Uhuru Park.
The advocates argued that, like the late Mzee Kenyatta, Raila Odinga was a unifying national figure who commanded immense respect both locally and internationally. They said that laying him to rest in the capital would allow Kenyans to continue paying pilgrimage and homage to his legacy.
Quoting the Retirement Benefits (State Officers) Act and the national values enshrined in Article 10 of the Constitution, the letter noted that the State has the mandate to accord such honours to leaders of Odinga’s stature.
“Our clients’ considered view is that the late H.E. Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga be interred in Nairobi County to allow continued homage. In their words, ‘Baba Raila Amolo Odinga azikwe kando ya Mzee Jomo Kenyatta,’” the letter stated.The law firm urged the committee to consult the Odinga family and respond promptly to their request to enable further legal advice to their clients.
President William Ruto on Tuesday announced a national funeral committee to oversee a state funeral for the late Raila Odinga, who passed away in India yesterday morning.
