Senate to hold special sitting to eulogise Raila Odinga tomorrow

The Senate will hold a special sitting on Thursday, October 16, to pay tribute and eulogise the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

According to a Gazette Notice dated October 15, 2025, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi announced that the sitting will be held in the Senate Chamber, Main Parliament Buildings, commencing at 2:30 p.m.

The sitting has been convened pursuant to the Senate Standing Orders, following a request by the Senate Majority Leader supported by the requisite number of Senators.

“The business to be transacted at the sitting shall be consideration of a Motion for the Senate to pay tribute and eulogise the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya, the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga,” the notice read in part.

Speaker Kingi stated that in accordance with Standing Order 33 (5), the business specified in the notice shall be the only matter before the Senate during the special sitting, after which the House will adjourn until Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 2:30 p.m.

Earlier, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula adjourned the morning sitting of Parliament following the announcement of Odinga’s death in India.

“I will invoke my authority under Standing Order Number One, and I direct as follows: the sitting this morning is adjourned,” Wetang’ula stated.

“We will have a sitting at 2:30 p.m this afternoon, where the Speaker will give you important communication. For now, the House stands adjourned to 2:30 p.m. this afternoon,” he told MPs.

Following Odinga’s death, President William Ruto on Wednesday declared a seven-day national mourning period in honour of the former Prime Minister, directing that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country and at all Kenyan missions abroad until his interment.

Ruto described Odinga as “one of Africa’s greatest leaders, a giant of democracy, and a tireless warrior for good governance.”

The ODM party leader died at the age of 80 in the Indian city of Kochi, where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed condition.

Indian newspapers Mathrubhumi and The Hindu first reported the news on Wednesday morning, saying Odinga suffered cardiac arrest during a morning walk at the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre he has been for the last five days.