The sound of vuvuzelas filled the morning air in Kisumu as thousands of mourners thronged the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo to welcome home the body of Raila Amollo Odinga — the man they simply called Baba.
Tears mixed with song and dance. Even before the military chopper touched down, the crowd’s grief erupted into wails that echoed across the packed stadium. Tree twigs waved in the air, a traditional symbol of mourning and celebration.
Raila’s remains were flown from Nairobi’s Lee Funeral Home aboard a Kenya Air Force C-27J Spartan, call sign ENIGMA01 — a fitting tribute to a man long described as Kenya’s “political enigma.” The plane landed at Kisumu International Airport shortly after 7:30 a.m., where military honours were rendered before a smaller chopper lifted the casket for the final stretch to Mamboleo.
At the stadium, the mood was both solemn and electric. “We have lost a father, a freedom fighter,” said Agnes Atieno, a resident who had queued since dawn to secure a spot. “But we are proud he belonged to us.”
Security was tight. Units from the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, and county government manned every gate. Mourners passed through strict screening as helicopters circled overhead. Despite an overnight downpour, hundreds had gathered at the airport as early as 5 a.m., braving the chill to glimpse the procession. Along the route, families waved flags and held up portraits of Raila, some whispering prayers, others ululating in defiance of sorrow.
Inside the stadium, a white dome tent stood at the centre of the field, surrounded by military guards. A platform draped in Kenya’s national colours awaited the casket. Giant screens and public address systems had been set up across Kisumu — from Kondele roundabout to Nyalenda — so even those outside the venue could follow the ceremony.
Emergency medical teams were on standby, and a heavy security cordon ensured order as the day unfolded.
By mid-morning, senior government officials, including Interior Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo, Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, and Senator Prof Tom Ojienda, arrived to receive the body. The city came to a standstill. Shops shut their doors. Traffic slowed to silence.
For Kisumu, this was more than a funeral. It was a homecoming for a man who had defined Kenya’s struggle for democracy — a farewell steeped in love, loyalty, and the echoes of history.
As the crowd broke into a chorus of “Baba! Baba!” and the casket was lifted from the helicopter, the mood swelled between grief and gratitude. One era had ended. But in Kisumu, Raila Odinga’s spirit still felt very much alive.
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