Burial plans ready as Cornel Rasanga assures mourners of security

Young men from Sakwa Bondo dig the grave where Fidel will be buried at his grandfather’s home, Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, in Bondo. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO |

What you need to know:

  • Bondo town is a beehive of activity with most hotels fully booked.
  • More than 120 tents, each holding 100 people, have also been set up at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University.

All is set for the burial of Fidel Odinga in Bondo, Siaya, on Saturday.

Roads have been repaired, communication systems given a boost and accommodation catered for even as the family continued to take stock of what they had received from well-wishers.

The nearby Bondo town is a beehive of activity with most hotels fully booked. More than 20,000 mourners are expected at the funeral.

The body will be received in Kisumu for public viewing at the Jomo Kenyatta grounds before the procession heads to his father’s Opoda Village home in Bondo.

At the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University, where the public will converge for the final mass, a team of engineers from Netsol Kenya, working together with Safaricom, have installed a transmission mast to boost the mobile phone network.

More than 120 tents, each holding 100 people, have also been set up at the college.

Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga said a final report on the number of bulls and bags of maize would be made.

“We are doing well with the plans. It is difficult to say what we have received,” he said.

He added that the contributions were overwhelming, an indication of the love Kenyans had for Fidel.

Mr Rasanga assured mourners that the event will be peaceful, urging those who will travel to Bondo for the ceremony to maintain peace.

“The security team has assured us that police will be deployed to maintain order at the burial. Let our youth embrace all our guests,” said Mr Rasanga.

Fidel’s uncle, Mr Omindo Otengo, on Thursday led a team of youth in preparing the grave where Mr Odinga’s son will be buried.