Kenyans on Sunday lined up on the road leading to KDF boss Francis Ogolla's resting place in Mur, Ng’iya village, in Siaya.
They wailed and chanted dirges, while waving twigs to express their grief.
From Kogony village, where the Kisumu International Airport is located, all the way to Siaya, thousands thronged the highway to catch a glimpse of the casket.
The military plane carrying Ogolla's remains touched down in Kisumu just before 8am.
The body was loaded onto a gun carriage and eventually onto the hearse for the slow 80km trip.
The journey started in Kogony, Kisian, through Seme to Ndori junction and then to Senator Obama Primary School where the burial service was held.
Boda boda riders and youths joined the procession, some too close to the hearse.
When they reached the school, the casket was mounted onto the gun carriage, pulled by senior military officers, led by Major General Jeff Nyaga, the head of the Western Command.
After the funeral service and speeches, the body was moved to his home in Mur village. The hearse carrying the casket was guarded by armed special forces officers on foot.
At the home of CDF Ogolla, only a lean team of mourners, including top military leadership and those from the Executive, led by President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and close family members were allowed at the graveside.
It was a sombre affair, with close family and relatives breaking down in tears.
The last rites were performed by the church guided by ACK Archbishop Jackson ole Sapit and the military as the band belted out tunes.
The body, wrapped in white sheets, was lowered into the grave, followed by a 19-gun salute.
The President, his deputy, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Defence CS and other officials sat in a tent near the grave as the proceedings went on.
After the ceremonial throwing of soil into the grave by family members and a select officials, a wreath was laid.
The flag that draped the casket, the military flag, the military decorations of Ogolla and his boots were handed to the widow Aileen Kathambi.
