Kenyans Light Candles in Memory of Raila Odinga as Nationwide Tribute Begins

Jambo24 Reporter, Nairobi | October 2, 2026

Kenyans across the country are on Friday evening lighting candles in memory of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, as activities marking the first anniversary of his death begin.

The nationwide candle-lighting exercise, scheduled for 6pm, is part of a month-long programme dubbed “Mwezi wa Baba” organised by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to commemorate its founding leader.

Raila died on October 15, 2025, while receiving medical treatment in India, aged 80.

The main Nairobi ceremony is being held at Uhuru Park, where activities began at 3pm ahead of the 6pm candle-lighting.

Similar ceremonies have been organised in counties across the country, including Kisumu, Migori, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Busia, Vihiga, Kisii, Nyamira, Narok, Uasin Gishu, Turkana, Kajiado, Mombasa, Nakuru, Garissa and Wajir.

In Kisumu, the ceremony is being held at the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds, while Migori is hosting its event at Posta Grounds. Other regional gatherings are taking place at designated public spaces and town centres.

The exercise is also being extended to Kenyans living abroad, with ODM encouraging people to light candles wherever they are as part of the coordinated remembrance.

In Nairobi, another candle-lighting gathering has been announced at Jacaranda Grounds in Embakasi East, while a projection depicting Raila’s story is scheduled to be displayed on the KICC tower from 7pm.

The candle-lighting marks the beginning of a wider series of regional commemorative activities planned throughout October.

On October 9, ODM is scheduled to hold a major memorial rally in Kakamega, bringing together supporters from Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties.

Further activities are planned in Garissa on October 17, followed by commemorative events in the Coast region on October 18 and 19. The programme will later move to Kajiado and Turkana.

The family of the late former Prime Minister is also running a separate remembrance programme through the Raila Amolo Odinga Memorial National Steering Committee.

The committee has announced an international candle-lighting ceremony at Raila’s resting place at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo on October 14, one day before the anniversary of his death. The ceremony will be led by his widow, Ida Odinga, from 6pm.

The committee has invited Kenyans and people around the world to participate in the candle-lighting from wherever they are.

The two remembrance programmes are being organised through separate structures, with ODM focusing on activities connected to Raila’s political movement while the family-backed committee has presented its programme as a broader commemoration of his life and public service.

The family-led committee has acknowledged and welcomed ODM’s October 2 candle-lighting exercise.

The month-long commemorations will culminate in Bondo on October 15, when Kenya marks one year since the death of the former Prime Minister.

Raila served as Kenya’s Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013 under the Grand Coalition Government and remained a central figure in the country’s political affairs for decades.