Mourners wail and cling to Raila’s casket in chaotic JKIA scenes

There were chaotic and emotional scenes at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday as mourners overwhelmed by grief clung to the casket bearing the body of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

As the aircraft’s cargo door opened and the flag-draped casket was lowered, a wave of anguish swept through the gathered crowd. Dozens of mourners broke down in tears, wailing uncontrollably as they reached out toward the casket that carried the man many fondly called Baba.

“Baba! Baba!” one mourner screamed, his voice cracking as tears streamed down his face. 

Others collapsed to the ground in despair, their cries echoing through the air. The chants of “Jowi! Jowi!” — the traditional Luo lament — filled the air, turning the airport into a scene of raw emotion and disbelief

Security officers struggled to contain the mourners as they surged forward, some determined to touch the casket. A few clung tightly to it, making it difficult for officials to move the body from the tarmac.

The Kenya Airports Authority officials and police officers formed a cordon around the casket, pleading with the crowd to give space. “Please, allow us to move the body,” one officer shouted amid the chaos, his voice nearly drowned out by the wails and chants of grief.

Despite repeated efforts, the emotional crowd resisted, driven by a deep sense of loss for a man who had defined Kenyan politics for decades.

For many present, this was not just the return of a body it was the heartbreaking farewell to a leader, a mentor, and a symbol of resilience whose absence will be felt across generations.

Draped in the Kenyan flag, the casket was received by President William Ruto and Mama Ida Odinga, as the nation welcomed home the remains of the man widely regarded as the father of devolution and a pillar of democratic struggle.

The body was received with military honours before being placed on the gun carriage for transport to Lee Funeral Home under tight security. 

Earlier, Winnie Odinga stepped off the plane at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday, her face set in quiet resolve.

In her hands, she carried something deeply familiar: her father Raila Odinga’s iconic white fedora hat.

As she walked from the aircraft toward awaiting officials and family members, the hat seemed almost weighty with symbolism — a physical emblem of a life, a journey, and a legacy now in transit.

Earlier, in Mumbai, India, where Raila's body lay, the hat had drawn attention when it was photographed resting on a beige seat in a waiting area presumably in the lounge where Winnie and other delegation members paused during the repatriation process.