Kenya Airways Captain Saviamaria Ondego says flying the remains of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga from Mumbai to Nairobi was one of the most emotional experiences of her career.
Though it was a regular duty flight, she said the mission carried a heavy sense of duty and patriotism that made it different from any other journey.
“It was a surreal experience. Every day is not a normal day in our job, and just like any flight, we woke up just to fly our roster, but there was the heaviness and the responsibility to our country that made it not a normal flight,” she said in a video shared by The Star.
The Captain shared that making the announcement of Raila’s arrival on board was especially difficult as emotions overwhelmed her.
“I went to speak and nothing came out, and I had to come off the speaker, take a deep breath and then try again. My voice was a little shaky, but it was important to me, and somehow the words flowed,” she explained.
The former Prime Minister’s body was flown to Nairobi on Thursday morning from India, where he died while receiving medical treatment.
Also on the team was Jason Mose, the Inflight Performance Manager, who said the task was both overwhelming and an honour.
“It was both emotional and overwhelming as an individual, but I knew that I had to go because I was representing Kenya Airways and the country, and it was an honour for me to be mandated by the company to go and accompany the flight and make sure all protocols are observed and Raila Odinga is brought safely home,” Mose stated.
Both Saviamaria and Mose expressed their sympathies to Raila’s family and Kenyans at large, saying they were deeply touched to be part of the journey that brought him home.
According to Raila’s brother, Oburu Oginga, the burial will take place on Sunday, October 19, 2025, and will be a private ceremony attended by a few close family members.
President William Ruto has declared seven days of national mourning and said the late opposition leader will be honoured with a state funeral and full military rites.