Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s body left Nairobi early Saturday morning for Kisumu, marking the start of his final journey home. The remains of the late former Prime Minister arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly after 5 a.m., ferried in the iconic Lee Funeral Home Mercedes Benz hearse under full military escort.
His casket, draped in the Kenyan flag, was carefully lifted from the hearse and placed on a ceremonial carrier before being wheeled to a Kenya Air Force aircraft.
Kenya Defence Forces officers and clergy accompanied the brief but solemn transfer as part of the state honours accorded to the late opposition leader. The aircraft took off from Nairobi at 6 a.m., headed to Kisumu, where thousands were waiting to receive him.
Meanwhile, Siaya Senator and National Funeral Planning Committee Co-chair Oburu Odinga apologised to Kenyans following Thursday’s chaos at Kasarani Stadium, where police lobbed teargas at mourners who had gathered to view Raila’s body.
The commotion led to two deaths and left several people injured.
Addressing the press on Friday, Oburu expressed regret over the incident and urged both security officers and mourners to exercise restraint and maintain peace throughout the mourning period.
“I would like to express my disappointment. Yesterday, there was some teargas thrown around. I don’t like teargas. Raila has been teargassed enough when he was alive and should not be teargassed in death,” he said.
He appealed to mourners not to provoke security officers, adding: “Let us not cause a situation where he is teargassed again when we are escorting him; let us behave in a way that does not give any reason to use teargas and force against Kenyans who have come to mourn; they should be allowed to mourn peacefully.”
The senator also urged residents of Nyanza to honour Raila’s memory with peace and dignity as his body makes its way to Kisumu.
Oburu thanked President William Ruto for granting his late brother a state funeral, saying the gesture reflected national unity and respect for Raila’s contribution to Kenya’s democracy.
“I want to thank President William Ruto for taking the matter personally and for what he has done to give my late brother the honours he deserves,” Oburu said, also commending the planning committee for their dedication in organising the ceremonies.
Thursday’s scenes at Kasarani had turned chaotic as security officers clashed with mourners, some of whom were beaten and forced out of the stadium after teargas was fired to control the swelling crowd.
Despite the heavy police presence, thousands of supporters remained around the venue, determined to pay their final respects.
The late leader’s body arrived at Kasarani just moments after the confrontation began, heightening emotions among the crowd. Mourners were seen waving twigs—symbols of grief in Luo culture—while singing liberation songs and chanting Raila’s name, transforming the stadium into a sea of green and emotion.
Security remained tight into the night, with police deployed around Kasarani and along major routes leading to the airport to ensure the safe movement of the body.