NAIROBI, Kenya — Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has revisited the emotional journey that brought the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga from India to Kenya, paying tribute to the officials, airline crew and passengers who helped facilitate the repatriation in difficult circumstances.
In a statement reflecting on the events of October 15 and 16, 2025, Sifuna recalled travelling between Nairobi and Mumbai aboard Kenya Airways flights KQ202 and KQ203 during the operation. He said he had kept his boarding passes as a reminder of the journey that followed the news of Raila’s death.
Sifuna expressed gratitude to the Indian High Commission in Nairobi and the Indian government for helping facilitate the travel arrangements, acknowledging the logistical challenges involved in bringing the veteran opposition leader’s remains home.
“I couldn’t tell you what the toughest part of the day was, receiving the news in the morning or taking that flight to Mumbai,” Sifuna said.
He also praised Kenya Airways management and the flight crew led by Captain Saviemaria Ondego for their role in the operation, singling out a moment that became one of the most emotional memories of the return journey.
‘RAO001’: The moment the flight entered Kenyan airspace
Sifuna recalled how the captain changed the aircraft’s call sign to RAO001 as it entered Kenyan airspace, a gesture he said moved those aboard the flight.
“Bwana on the way back we thought our tears had dried then she hit us with that call change to RAO001 when we entered our airspace. Wacha tu. God bless,” he said.
The designation honoured Raila, whose death on October 15, 2025, prompted an outpouring of grief across the country. The flight’s return became a poignant moment in the national mourning, as his remains were brought home draped in the Kenyan flag.
Sifuna’s recollection also highlighted the role played by people working behind the scenes to ensure the repatriation proceeded despite the circumstances.
Sifuna apologises to inconvenienced passengers
The senator acknowledged that the operation disrupted travel plans for ordinary passengers, some of whom were reportedly removed from flights, had their seats rearranged or experienced delays.
He said some passengers only learnt the reason for the unusual arrangements after boarding, when the captain explained the circumstances.
Sifuna apologised to those affected and thanked them for their patience and understanding, recognising that the repatriation required difficult logistical decisions at a time of national grief.
He also expressed gratitude to the Kenya Defence Forces for the honour accorded to Raila, saying those who supported the former prime minister would remain thankful for the arrangements made to bring him home.
How Raila’s remains were repatriated
Raila died in India on the morning of October 15, 2025, while receiving medical attention. He was taken to Devamatha Hospital in Koothattukulam, Kerala, where he was pronounced dead following cardiac arrest.
His death prompted tributes from across Kenya’s political spectrum. President William Ruto described him as a historic statesman and a pioneer of democracy, while leaders and supporters mourned a figure who had played a defining role in the country’s political development.
A high-level Kenyan delegation comprising political leaders, government officials and family members travelled to India to coordinate the repatriation of his remains.
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The Indian government provided military transportation to move the body from Kerala to Mumbai, from where the delegation travelled to Nairobi aboard a specially designated Kenya Airways flight.
Raila’s body was draped in the Kenyan national flag during the journey home. The change of the flight’s call sign to RAO001 as the aircraft entered Kenyan airspace became a symbolic tribute to the former prime minister.
A year later, Raila’s legacy remains a national story
Sifuna’s tribute came a day after Kenya marked the first anniversary of Raila’s death on October 15, 2026, at Migwena Cultural and Sports Grounds in Bondo, Siaya County.
The anniversary brought together members of the Odinga family, political leaders and thousands of mourners to remember the former prime minister. However, the gathering also exposed tensions over the future of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and competing interpretations of Raila’s political legacy.
Against that backdrop, Sifuna’s recollection shifts attention from the political contest surrounding Raila’s legacy to the events immediately following his death: the grief of those who travelled to bring him home and the cooperation required to complete the repatriation.
The flight remains a powerful part of the public memory of Raila’s final journey, linking a moment of national mourning with the practical efforts of officials, military personnel, airline staff and passengers who helped make his return possible.
