– Veteran journalist Stephen Letoo has opened up about one of the most emotionally draining moments of his career — the journey to India to bring back the body of Raila Odinga following his death. Speaking candidly, Letoo described the experience as deeply painful, admitting that he nearly refused the assignment due to the heartbreak it carried.
“I Almost Declined the Trip”
“When I was told to take my passport and go to India in 45 minutes, I almost declined,” Letoo revealed. The journalist recalled the somber mood aboard the flight, describing it as the longest and most silent journey of his life. “I could hardly eat. I imagined I was not going to bring Raila home alive, but dead. Everybody on that flight looked shattered. People were sitting silently; one would think we didn’t know each other,” he said.
A Somber Scene in India
Upon arrival, Letoo was met with a heartbreaking sight — Raila’s coffin surrounded by close associates, including Ogeta, and Indian military officers. “Ogeta told me, ‘Mzee ametuacha, siamini,’” he recalled. Letoo embraced him as they steeled themselves for the solemn duty ahead. The coffin, draped in the Kenyan flag, was swiftly prepared and loaded for the return flight home. Letoo added that the body had been placed in a temporary casket in India and was not opened for public viewing.
Grief Among Family and Nation
Letoo also recounted the raw grief of Winnie Odinga, who held tightly to her father’s hat during the preparations. Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the scene was tense and emotional, with heavy military presence maintaining order as thousands gathered to mourn the fallen leader.
“The End of an Era in Political Journalism”
Reflecting on the impact of Raila’s death, Letoo said it marked a profound loss not only for Kenya’s politics but also for its media landscape. “As political journalists, there is nobody to give us the calibre of news that Raila did. For the political class, there are politicians elected either for hating or loving Raila. Those two types of politicians are jobless,” he remarked.
He remembered Raila as a fatherly and humble figure who often checked in on journalists. “He would ask how my children were doing and thank me for coverage. He was kind, thoughtful, and respectful of the media,” Letoo said.
A Legacy Beyond Politics
Raila Odinga’s death has left a deep void in Kenya’s political and media space. For journalists like Letoo, the loss is both professional and personal — the departure of a leader whose life shaped the nation’s narrative for decades. His reflections capture not just the grief of a journalist, but of a country mourning a man whose influence transcended politics.
