Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has relived the emotionally draining journey to Mumbai, India, to bring home the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, describing a day marked by grief, difficult decisions and extraordinary efforts to honour the late opposition leader.
In a moving account shared a year after the events of October 15 and 16, 2025, Sifuna recalled retaining his Kenya Airways boarding passes for flights KQ 202 and KQ 203, which took the delegation to Mumbai and back.
The passes, he revealed, remain a reminder of a journey he struggled to process emotionally.
“I couldn’t tell you what the toughest part of the day was, receiving the news in the morning or taking that flight to Mumbai,” Sifuna said.
The former Orange Democratic Movement secretary-general said the mission unfolded under difficult circumstances, requiring cooperation between the Kenyan and Indian governments, Kenya Airways and the Kenya Defence Forces.
While reflecting on the experience, the Linda Mwananchi boss expressed gratitude to the people and institutions that helped make the journey possible, acknowledging the logistical challenges involved in bringing Raila’s body home.
He singled out the Indian High Commission in Nairobi and the Indian government for facilitating the arrangements.
“I don’t know how many rules of international travel were bent to make that flight happen. Ahsante sana,” he said.
Sifuna also praised Kenya Airways management and the flight crew led by Captain Saviemaria Ondego for their professionalism and sensitivity during the journey.
He recalled an especially emotional moment on the return flight when the aircraft entered Kenyan airspace and the captain announced a change in the flight's call sign to RAO001, in honour of Raila Odinga.
“Bwana, on the way back we thought our tears had dried, then she hit us with that call change to RAO001 when we entered our airspace. Wacha tu. God bless,” he said.
The gesture appeared to bring the weight of the moment into sharper focus for members of the delegation, many of whom were still coming to terms with the loss of a man who had shaped Kenya's political landscape for decades.
Sifuna also apologised to ordinary passengers who experienced disruptions on the two flights.
He said some travellers were bumped off their flights, while others faced seat changes and lengthy delays, particularly on the outbound flight, KQ 202.
Many passengers, he explained, did not understand the circumstances until the aircraft was airborne and the captain made an announcement.
“Apologies for the inconveniences on that day, but you were very gracious. God bless,” he said.
The senator further thanked the Kenya Defence Forces for the honour accorded to Raila during the repatriation process, describing the gesture as one his supporters would always remember.
“The Kenya Defence Forces, bwana, for the honour extended to Baba, we his people will forever be grateful. Salute,” he said.
Raila's homecoming was a deeply emotional moment for his family, political allies and supporters, who regarded him as a towering figure in Kenya's struggle for democracy and constitutional reform.
For Sifuna, the retained boarding passes offer a personal link to a journey that was more than an international flight. It was a solemn mission to bring home a political icon whose death left a profound mark on the country's national life.
