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The remains of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga landed at Kisumu International Airport on Saturday, October 18, 2025, marking a significant moment in the national mourning period as thousands gather to pay their respects before his burial in Bondo.
The body of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga arrived at Kisumu International Airport on Saturday, October 18, 2025, aboard a military jet designated 'Enigma01C'. The aircraft, carrying the remains of the veteran opposition leader who passed away on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at the age of 80 in India, touched down to a ceremonial water cannon salute as part of the military honours directed by President William Ruto.
This arrival in Kisumu marks one of the final stages of a national farewell for one of Kenya's most influential political figures. Public viewing is scheduled at Mamboleo Grounds, with authorities anticipating a massive turnout from Kisumu, the wider Nyanza region, and across the country, reflecting Odinga's enduring connection to the community and his role in shaping Kenya's democratic journey.
Raila Odinga's journey home began earlier in the week following his death from a heart attack while receiving treatment in Kochi, India. On Thursday, October 16, 2025, a Kenya Airways flight repatriating his casket from Kochi was symbolically renamed RAO001 as it entered Kenyan airspace. This gesture, a first for a Kenyan public figure, allowed thousands of Kenyans to follow the flight live on Flightradar24, underscoring the deep national sentiment.
Upon its arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, the plane was received by President William Ruto, First Lady Rachel Ruto, retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, and senior government officials. The event highlighted the national importance of Odinga's return and the unity displayed in mourning his passing.
A state funeral service was held on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, attended by numerous local and international dignitaries. President Ruto had declared a seven-day period of national mourning, with flags flying at half-mast, and ordered a state funeral with military honours for the former Prime Minister.
Following the public viewing in Kisumu, the casket, draped in the national flag, will be transported by road to Odinga's ancestral home in Bondo, Siaya County, under state escort. The burial is scheduled for Sunday, October 19, 2025, at Kang'o Ka Jaramogi, where he will be laid to rest alongside his parents, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Mary Juma Odinga.
The decision to bury Odinga on Sunday, October 19, 2025, was reached by the National Funeral Committee, co-chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Senator Oburu Odinga, to balance his personal wish of being interred within 72 hours of his death with family needs and community traditions.
The coming days will focus on the final burial ceremony in Bondo and the subsequent political landscape. Attention will turn to the future leadership of the Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Party and the broader implications for Kenyan politics following the departure of a figure who profoundly shaped the country's trajectory for decades.
