Raila Odinga’s longtime aide, Dennis Onyango, has revealed how the late General Francis Ogolla’s burial arrangements influenced the former Prime Minister’s wish to be buried within 72 hours after his death.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s Sunday Live, Onyango recounted private conversations he had with Odinga, describing him as a leader who rarely spoke about death and remained focused on ideas, politics, and movement until his final days.
According to Onyango, the conversation happened shortly after the death of General Ogolla while he was in Migori.
“He told me, even me, when I die, I want that thing done in 72 hours,” Onyango recalled.
He explained that Raila had referenced General Ogolla’s burial plans, noting that the late military chief had reportedly indicated in his will that he wished to be buried within three days.
“When General Ogolla died, I was in the village in Migori. Raila wanted to go to Ogolla’s home and he told me the guy wrote in the will that he be buried in 72 hours. Then he said that is the way I would also want to be buried,” Onyango said.
The veteran journalist admitted that at the time, he did not take the remarks seriously and assumed Odinga was merely joking.
“I told him nobody would accept those things. I thought he was joking. So when I got to Karen and I was told it was 72 hours, I thought this guy, he was serious,” he added.
The revelations come nearly eight months after Odinga’s death, as Onyango opened up about the ODM leader’s final days, including their last phone conversations while Raila was receiving treatment in India.
Onyango described Raila as upbeat and optimistic during their final exchange, saying the veteran politician informed him that doctors had managed his condition and that he planned to briefly travel to Dubai before returning to Nairobi.
“He sounded very okay. He told me they had checked everything and treated the problem,” Onyango recalled.
