Burial preparations for Fidel Odinga in top gear in Bondo

Preparations for the funeral of Mr Fidel Castro Odinga, the son of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, are in top gear at the Cord leader’s rural home in Bondo.

On Tuesday, two meetings were held separately: one at Mr Odinga’s residence in Opoda and the other at Jaramogi Oginga’s home, where the burial rites will be performed.

Several elders, church leaders, politicians and officials of the county government of Siaya in charge of the organisation of the funeral attended the meetings.

The burial will be held on Saturday, January 10.

The usually quiet home of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga is now a beehive of activities.

A number of youths have been engaged in chopping fuel wood, ensuring water and electricity connections are up and running as well as making security adjustments at the home.

Siaya Deputy Governor Ouma Onyango, who is the chairman of the funeral committee, said the ceremony would be held at the grounds of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology.

NIGHT VIGIL

He was addressing reporters after a meeting at Kang’o Kajaramogi.

He said the body would be received in Bondo on Friday for a night vigil at the Opoda residence before the procession heads to the college.

“We are yet to finalise the program. Tentatively, we shall hold a night vigil at the former Prime Ministers’ home in Opoda under the leadership of the Coptic Church,” he said.

On Saturday, prayers will be conducted by the Anglican Church of Kenya at the university grounds before the procession heads to the family cemetery, he said.

More than eight catering units will be set up at the various venues to avert a stampede among the mourners.

Mr Onyango said that more than 10 bulls had so far been pledged, as well as 10 sacks of maize.

“We are yet to compare notes with the chair of the Nairobi team. More donations are also expected in due course,” he said.

Many people from Siaya County have volunteered to take charge of the thousands of guests expected to attend the burial of the late Fidel Odinga.

“We are happy that many people want to contribute towards the funeral; it is a good sign for us since the Jaramogi family is extended beyond the Kenyan borders,” Mr Onyango said.

“We expect rugby players, Fidel’s constituents, in-laws, friends and relatives of the Odinga family,” he said, adding that the funeral was rushed to exemplify to the Luo community that there is no need to keep their dead ones for long.

Governor Cornel Rasanga conducted another meeting at the Opoda farm that was closed to the press.

IDENTIFY GRAVESITE

At the same time, elders from the home led in the identification of the gravesite where Fidel will be buried.

Being a grandson of the first vice-president of Kenya, Fidel’s grave will be set in the same line as that of his peers at the family’s shrine.

He will be laid to rest alongside his kinsmen Mama Mary Odhiambo (grandmother, who died in 1984); Fredrick Odima (1975); Ngire Omuodo (1983); Raila Osewe (1992) and Master Omondi Oginga, who died in 1956 aged 8 months.

Mr Otengo Omindo, an uncle of Fidel Odinga, said the graveyard had been identified by the father long before he died.

“The late Fidel had not constructed a homestead according to the Luo customs. He is therefore considered a child and cannot be buried in his new house at the Opoda farm,” Mr Otengo said.