![[PHOTOS] Mourners flock Parliament, await Raila’s body](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.radioafrica.digital%2Fimage%2F2025%2F10%2F6e753fb4-1c47-48bc-ad26-87b8b886a4cf.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Winnie Odinga carries his father's iconic white hat while exiting the plane at JKIA/EZEKIEL AMING'AWinnie 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.
The image went viral in Kenyan media and social media circles, stirring emotions and speculation.
Some wondered whether the hat had been left behind, others whether it had been intentionally placed as a sign of waiting, as though it were anticipating the journey home.
The visuals struck a chord because the hat has been closely associated with Raila Odinga for years — often described as among his favourites.
The decision by Winnie to carry the hat herself on arrival transforms it from a mere accessory into a potent token of continuity.
It underscores the personal grief of a daughter and the public mourning of a nation that saw in that white hat more than style.
For the Odinga family and supporters, it has long been part of Raila’s persona: a dignified tilt atop his head, worn in gatherings, public functions, and moments of ceremony.
The hat has become more than optional attire; it is part of the visual shorthand by which many Kenyans recognised and remembered him.
It also symbolises a lineage of respect, continuity, and collective memory.
Raila Odinga died on October 15, 2025, at the age of 80 years.
His body arrived at JKIA at 9.33 am.
Several dignitaries, led by President William Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta, arrived to receive the body.
Operations at the airport were temporarily suspended following a security incident during the arrival of the remains of his remains.
Initial arrangements to move the body from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Lee Funeral Home for final preparations before being taken to Parliament Buildings for public viewing were abandoned amid escalating crowd trouble.
The remains have since been redirected to the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, after massive crowds made it impossible for the planned transfer to proceed as scheduled.
