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How Raila's funeral plans exposed Kenya's security flaws

Mourners turn out in large numbers to receive and view the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Kasarani Stadium on October 16, 2025. [File, Standard]

Last week’s sendoff of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was a grand but chaotic affair, marked by security lapses and logistical challenges that tested the country’s preparedness to handle the death of a national icon.

Odinga’s wish to be buried within 72 hours of his death in India only compounded the pressure on planners tasked with organising a dignified farewell for a man with a cult-like following.

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