Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has recalled the emotional trip back home aboard a Kenya Airways flight that brought the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga home from India, thanking all those that facilitated the travel under difficult circumstances.
In a statement reflecting on the events of October 15 and 16, 2025, Sifuna said he had kept his boarding passes for Kenya Airways flights KQ202 and KQ203, which carried him between Nairobi and Mumbai during the repatriation mission.
Sifuna thanked the Indian High Commission in Nairobi and the Indian government for facilitating the journey, saying he did not know how many international travel rules had been bent to make the flight possible.
“I couldn’t tell you what the toughest part of the day was, receiving the news in the morning or taking that flight to Mumbai,” he said.
Sifuna also praised Kenya Airways management and the flight crew led by Captain Saviemaria Ondego for their handling of the operation.
He described the moment the captain changed the flight’s call sign to RAO001 as the aircraft entered Kenyan airspace as particularly moving.
“Bwana on the way back we thought our tears had dried then she hit us with that call change to RAO001 when we entered our airspace. Wacha tu. God bless,” Sifuna said.
The senator apologised to ordinary passengers who were inconvenienced by the operation, noting that some were bumped off the flights, seats were rearranged and delays occurred, particularly on the outbound journey.
Many passengers, he said, only learnt what was happening after boarding when the captain made an announcement.
He thanked them for their patience and understanding.
Sifuna also expressed gratitude to the Kenya Defence Forces for the honour extended to Raila, saying those who supported the former Prime Minister would remain grateful.
Raila died in India on the morning of October 15, 2025.
He was taken to Devamatha Hospital in Koothattukulam, where he was pronounced dead from cardiac arrest.
His death triggered an outpouring of grief across Kenya’s political spectrum, with President William Ruto paying tribute to him as a historic statesman and pioneer of democracy.
A high-level Kenyan delegation of more than 30 leaders, government officials and family members travelled to India to coordinate the repatriation.
The Indian government provided military transportation to move his remains from Kerala to Mumbai before the delegation boarded the specially designated Kenya Airways flight to Nairobi.
The aircraft returned to Kenya with Raila’s body draped in the national flag, with the flight call sign changed to RAO001 in his honour the moment the aircraft entered Kenyan airspace.
Sifuna’s tribute came a day after the country marked the first anniversary of the former ODM leader’s death at Migwena Cultural and Sports Grounds in Bondo, Siaya.
