President William Ruto has arrived at Parliament Building, where the body of the Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga lies in State.
The President was received by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula and his Senate counterpart Amason Kingi.
The solemn occasion precedes the State Funeral, which will be
held at Nyayo National Stadium from 9 am.
President Ruto was joined by other dignitaries, including Chief
Justice Martha Koome and a host of MPs.
Also present was Raila’s son, Jr.
A few minutes after his arrival, Ruto and First Lady Mama
Rachel Ruto viewed the fallen hero’s body.
Raila’s sister Ruth Odinga and his children Jnr and Winnie
followed next, with the son performing a cultural ritual.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki also paid his last respects
to the former opposition leader, followed by both Wetangula and Kingi.
Koome also got the honor of viewing Raila’s body as it lay in state.
The solemn
moment marks one of the final chapters in Kenya’s week of mourning following
Raila’s death in India on Wednesday.
The
military-led motorcade, escorted by police outriders and an army band, made its
way through the capital shortly after dawn, drawing thousands of mourners who
lined the streets waving twigs and chanting his name.
At
Parliament, officers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the National
Police Service formed a tight security ring around the building as preparations
got underway.
Raila’s body, draped in the national flag, was received by senior government officials, clergy, and family members before being taken into the main foyer of Parliament for the brief lying-in-state ceremony.
What it means to ‘lie in state’
To “lie in state” refers to the ceremonial tradition of placing the coffin of a national leader or prominent figure in a public government building, often draped in the national flag, to allow citizens and dignitaries to pay their final respects. It is one of the highest state honours accorded to a public servant and symbolizes national mourning and gratitude for a leader’s service.
Raila joins a short list of Kenyan leaders, including former Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Daniel arap Moi, who have been accorded this rare state honour.
After the ceremony, the procession will leave Parliament by 8:30 a.m. for Nyayo Stadium, where tens of thousands of mourners are expected to gather for the state funeral service before his body is flown to Bondo for Sunday’s burial.
