Raila anniversary: Details of three-day memorial

A three-day programme to mark the first anniversary of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s death begins on today, the Raila Odinga Memorial Anniversary Committee has said.

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The celebrations will bring together elders, youth, religious leaders, family members and supporters to celebrate his life and reflect on his legacy.

The commemorations, running from October 13 to 15, will feature an intergenerational dialogue in Kisumu, an international candle-lighting ceremony at Kang’o and a memorial gathering at Migwena Cultural Grounds in Bondo on Thursday.

According to a programme released by the Raila Odinga Memorial Anniversary Committee, the activities are intended to honour Raila’s decades of public service while encouraging reflection on the values and ideals he championed.

In a statement dated October 12, committee chairman Prof Adams Oloo said the anniversary was an opportunity to celebrate Raila’s contribution to the country rather than focus solely on mourning.

“This is not a week of mourning alone. It is a week of gratitude,” the statement said.

The programme will open on Tuesday at Ofafa Memorial Hall in Kisumu, where the Luo Council of Elders, youth, women and religious leaders will participate in an intergenerational conclave.

The meeting will focus on Raila’s call for dialogue between generations to address social, political and economic challenges. It will also provide an opportunity to reflect on the period following his death, with emphasis on peace, tolerance and public participation.

Young people from the region are expected to present poetry and musical performances exploring Raila’s struggles, the aspirations of the people and his legacy. A blood donation exercise will also be held in recognition of his spirit of selflessness.

The committee said the gathering would highlight Raila’s close relationship with the community that raised him and his contribution to Kenya’s national development.

The commemorations will move to Kang’o on Wednesday, where an international candle-lighting ceremony led by his widow, Ida Odinga, will begin at 6pm.

The committee has called on Kenyans and Raila’s supporters around the world to light candles at the same time as a symbol of remembrance and unity.

“In homes, in churches, in mosques, in diaspora gatherings from London to Lagos, from Minnesota to Mombasa, let a single flame become a million flames,” the statement said.

The organisers said the ceremony would allow people across different countries to participate in the tribute, extending the commemoration beyond Kenya’s borders.

The main memorial anniversary will take place on Thursday, October 15, at Migwena Cultural Grounds in Bondo, beginning at 7am.

The gathering is expected to bring together Raila’s family, community representatives, political leaders, invited guests and members of the public to mark one year since his death on October 15, 2025.

Musicians from Kenya and beyond will perform in tribute to the veteran opposition leader, whose decades in public life made him a prominent figure in the country’s political history.

The event will also provide an opportunity for participants to reflect on his journey and renew their commitment to the ideals that defined his years in public service.

“Above all, Migwena will be a moment of collective remembrance: a chance to walk once more through the journey of his life, and to recommit ourselves to the values and ideals that defined his decades of public service,” the committee said.

The organisers have urged members of the public, community organisations and media houses to support the three-day programme and help Kenyans across the country and the international community participate in the commemorations.

They have also appealed to those attending the events to maintain peace, dignity and respect throughout the anniversary activities.

“The Committee appeals to all participants to observe the programme peacefully and respectfully, as we come together as one people to honour his memory,” the statement said.

Raila’s first death anniversary comes as Kenyans reflect on his political journey, his contribution to the country’s democratic development and his lasting place in public life.

The committee said the anniversary should inspire reflection, unity and service to humanity.