Thursday, October 16, 2025, at exactly 9:30 am, will forever ingrained in Kenyans memory. The KQA203 flight carrying the remains of the former prime minister touched down, at the Jomo Kenyatte International Airport.
Aboard the plane was his daughter Winnie Odinga who emerged from the plane while holding onto her father’s hat. His sister Ruth Odinga, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi alongside other 30 delegates were aboard the plane.
Ms Ruth was visibly overwhelmed while his brother’s body was being carried out of the plane. Drowned in grief, she broke down in tears.
In a somber mood, the reality dawned on them all. They silently wept in despair, with each exiting the plane one by one in disbelief. It was indeed a reality. Baba went for treatment in India, but died while he was away.
The mourners who swarmed JKIA were overwhelmed and for a moment, activities at the busiest airport came to a stand still when a huge crowd breached security protocols and charged towards the plane dubbed RAO001, the most tracked flight not just to Kenyan history but worldwide.
The plane upon touching down was accorded the water salute a ceremonial tradition where airport fire trucks that were standby created an arch of water over the airplane.
A quarter to 10 am, the Kenya Army officer draped the Kenyan flag on the casket before being wheeled out of the plane.
His supporters wailed while others openly prayed and consoled themselves that it shall be well even though their kingpin was no longer with them physically.
There was heavy presence of military officers but the swelling crowds somehow find their way to the Kenyan flight and scaled it to its entry.
The entourage headed its way out of the airport through the expressway an act that seemed to have angered most of the Odinga’s supporters who were along Mombasa road and wanted to witness the entourage.
