Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced an increase in flight frequencies to Kisumu ahead of the burial of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga, scheduled for Sunday, October 19, 2025, in Bondo, Siaya County.
In an official statement shared on its X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, October 17, 2025, the national carrier said it had added extra flights over the weekend to meet the high travel demand as thousands of mourners prepare to travel to Nyanza for the burial ceremony.
“We’ve increased our flight frequency to Kisumu over the weekend to accommodate the high travel demand,” KQ stated.
According to the airline, two additional flights KQ656 and KQ658 will operate on Saturday, October 18, departing at 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., respectively. Kenya Airways further confirmed that several flights have been upgraded to Boeing 737 aircraft to accommodate more passengers on Sunday, the day of the burial.
Among the upgraded flights are KQ650 (departing at 6:50 a.m.), KQ654 (8:05 a.m.), KQ670, and KQ671 (7:00 p.m.), all scheduled between Sunday and Monday.
KQ reaffirmed its commitment to providing smooth and reliable travel services during this period, noting that the surge in bookings reflects the deep respect and affection Kenyans hold for the late Odinga.
“We remain committed to ensuring seamless travel for all our guests,” the airline said.
This move comes a day after Kenya Airways made a rare and emotional gesture by changing its call sign midair from KQ203 to RAO001 Raila Amollo Odinga’s initials upon entering Kenyan airspace. The flight, which arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, received a historic water salute in honour of the departed leader.
The national carrier’s tribute underscores Raila Odinga’s towering legacy and the nation’s collective mourning as preparations continue for his final journey home.
