A wave of deep sorrow swept through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday as the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga arrived in Nairobi. Emotional scenes unfolded as thousands of mourners, carrying twigs and shouting “Jowi! Jowi!” the traditional Luo cry of mourning thronged the airport to witness the homecoming of the man affectionately known as Baba.
The atmosphere turned somber and chaotic as the aircraft carrying Odinga’s remains taxied to a stop. Many Kenyans breached the VIP gate, running toward the runway, overcome with grief. Some fell to their knees, sobbing uncontrollably, while others lifted their hands to the sky in anguish.
Security officers struggled to contain the swelling crowd, forming a human barricade to keep mourners from reaching the plane. “Please, allow us to remove the casket!” one official pleaded through the loudspeaker, but the cries only grew louder as emotion overtook order.
When the casket draped in the Kenyan flag—was finally lowered from the aircraft, the moment proved too heavy for many. “Mayie Baba!” mourners wailed, tears streaming down their faces as they watched the body of the man whose political journey shaped Kenya’s democracy.
President William Ruto and Mama Ida Odinga stood side by side to receive the casket, marking a poignant moment of national unity. The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) provided full military honours, including a ceremonial guard and a military band performing slow, solemn tunes.
The flag-draped casket was then placed on a military gun carriage for transport to Lee Funeral Home under tight security.
For millions of Kenyans, Raila Odinga’s arrival marked more than the return of a national icon—it symbolized the end of an era, the farewell to a man whose vision for justice, democracy, and devolution changed the course of Kenya’s history.
