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Kenya woke up to heartbreak following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who passed away on Wednesday, October 15, at Devamatha Hospital in Southern India. The 80-year-old political icon reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest during his morning walk. According to the specialist cardiologist who attended to him, Raila’s heart had stopped beating upon admission. “They embarked on resuscitative measures, including intubation, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), placement in the IVC filter to assess blood clots, injection and thrombolysis, all to no avail.” His passing marks the end of over three decades of political influence that shaped Kenya’s democracy.
At Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), grief and emotion filled the air as Raila’s body arrived aboard the RAO001 flight from India shortly after 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 16. A 30-member delegation led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi accompanied the body home, where President William Ruto was on standby to receive it.
Among the mourners was Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, Raila’s ODM deputy, who broke down in tears moments after the plane landed. A shaky video captured the emotional leader weeping as supporters chanted Raila’s name in sorrow.
Crowds had gathered in Nairobi’s central business district and began marching toward the airport, determined to be part of their hero’s final homecoming. Many vowed to “take up Raila Odinga’s body and march with it back.”
To manage the unfolding events, the Ministry of Health deployed 36 ambulances fully equipped with Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) facilities. Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga confirmed that each ambulance had a paramedic, nurse, and driver for on-site emergency response. The fleet included vehicles from the Kenya Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, Nairobi Disaster Service, Nairobi Emergency Services, and Kenyatta National Hospital.
Despite heightened security, chaotic scenes erupted as Raila’s supporters breached barriers at JKIA and forced their way onto the runway. Chief of Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri was seen attempting to calm the crowd as emotions overwhelmed the moment.
The arrival of Raila Odinga’s body has united the nation in grief, marking the beginning of a farewell journey for a leader whose name will forever be etched in Kenya’s political history.
By Modester Nasimiyu
