The body of Kenya’s former Prime Minister, Raila Amollo Odinga, has finally arrived at his ancestral home in Bondo, Siaya County, marking an emotional climax to a week of national mourning.
The helicopter carrying the late ODM leader’s body touched down at Opoda Farm at exactly 4:16 p.m., greeted by a sea of mourners who had waited for hours under the sweltering afternoon sun. As the aircraft landed, wails pierced the air, vuvuzelas blared, and chants of “Baba! Baba!” echoed through the crowd.
The casket—draped in the Kenyan flag—was carefully lifted out of the chopper by a ceremonial guard, symbolizing the final homecoming of a man many have described as the country’s “father of democracy.”
The body was airlifted from Mamboleo Grounds in Kisumu, where thousands of residents had earlier gathered for a public viewing. Initially, the National Funeral Committee had planned to transport Raila’s body to Bondo by road, allowing mourners to pay their last respects along the route. However, the plan was revised in the final hours.
According to Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo, the change was made “after consultations with the National Funeral Steering Committee and the family,” citing security and logistical considerations.
“The body of the former Prime Minister will be flown directly to Bondo. We want to ensure the transition from Kisumu to his home is done smoothly and respectfully,” said Omollo.
The body’s arrival sets the stage for an all-night vigil at Kang’o ka Jaramogi, where Raila will be laid to rest on Sunday, October 19, beside his father, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first Vice President.
On Friday, Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, Raila’s elder brother, led a traditional ceremony known as tero ywak pacho—literally, “bringing the cry home”—which formally opened the homestead for mourning.
Initially, family sources had indicated that Raila would be buried next to his late mother, Mary Odinga, but the family later agreed that his final resting place would be beside his father—a symbolic reunion of two generations of Kenya’s most iconic political dynasty.
As darkness falls over Bondo, the town is transformed into a beehive of activity. Roads are jammed with vehicles and motorcycles, vendors line the streets selling candles and portraits of Raila, and a palpable sense of history fills the air.
Tomorrow, the nation will witness the final farewell to a man whose name has been synonymous with struggle, sacrifice, and the pursuit of justice—Raila Amollo Odinga.
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