A wave of emotion swept through the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu, as the body of former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga arrived for public viewing.
Thousands of mourners packed the stands, their tears, chants, and songs echoing through the air long before the casket was lifted from the military aircraft.
The Kenya Air Force plane, a Leonardo C-27J Spartan with the call sign ENIGMA01 — ferried Raila’s remains from Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi to Kisumu International Airport, touching down shortly after 7:30 a.m. The special code name, “ENIGMA01,” was a symbolic tribute to the late leader’s enduring reputation as Kenya’s political enigma.
At the airport, military officers conducted full honours before the body was transferred into a helicopter for the short flight to Mamboleo Stadium.
The stadium had been filled since dawn, with mourners waving tree branches, portraits, and flags in both grief and celebration. Vuvuzelas blared as the crowd broke into chants of “Baba! Baba!” — the nickname that had become synonymous with Raila’s political legacy.
Military helicopters had hovered over the venue earlier in the morning as part of an elaborate security drill ahead of the airlift and ceremony. Despite heavy rainfall overnight, hundreds gathered at Kisumu International Airport as early as 5 a.m., braving the cold to witness the arrival. Along the main roads to the stadium, residents lined the streets, cheering and waving as the convoy made its way through the city.
Inside the stadium, a large dome tent capable of accommodating about 1,500 people stood at the centre of the field. At its core, a platform draped in national colours awaited the casket, surrounded by uniformed guards maintaining a strict perimeter.
Security at the venue was visibly tight, with personnel drawn from the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, and Kisumu County Government manning all gates and crowd control points. Each mourner underwent security checks before entry, ensuring a smooth and orderly procession.
Outside the main arena, giant screens and public address systems were set up in various locations, including the busy Kondele roundabout, allowing those unable to access the stadium to follow the proceedings in real time. Emergency response and medical teams were strategically placed within and around the venue to cater to any incidents during the viewing.
As the casket finally arrived and was placed on the platform, a hush briefly fell over the crowd — before the air once again filled with wails, songs of remembrance, and cheers honouring the man whose political journey had shaped generations.