The remains of former Prime Minister and veteran opposition leader Raila Amolo Odinga are en route to Nairobi aboard Flight 203, marking a solemn moment in Kenya’s political history.
The aircraft departed from Kochi International Airport early Thursday after Indian officials in Kerala completed clearance procedures. The coffin, draped in the Kenyan flag, was escorted by senior diplomats and members of Odinga’s family. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who led the Kenyan delegation, confirmed the repatriation, describing the moment as “a heavy day for Kenya and Africa.”
President William Ruto has declared seven days of national mourning, ordering flags to be flown at half-mast across the country. He announced plans for a state funeral to celebrate Odinga’s lifelong contribution to democracy and national unity.
Odinga, 80, died in Kerala, India, after collapsing during a morning walk at an Ayurvedic hospital where he had been receiving treatment for an eye condition.
Across Kenya, spontaneous vigils have been held in major cities, with thousands gathering in Nairobi’s Uhuru Park and Kisumu’s Jomo Kenyatta Grounds to light candles and sing liberation songs associated with his reformist years.
Messages of condolence have poured in from across the continent. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa hailed him as “a steadfast defender of democracy.” Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan described him as “a pan-African visionary who believed in the power of people’s voices.”
Odinga’s arrival in Nairobi will be followed by a series of public viewings in Kisumu, Bondo, and Nairobi before the state funeral, expected to draw world leaders and dignitaries.
His final journey home marks the beginning of a historic farewell for a man who shaped Kenya’s political landscape for over half a century.
