- The body of former prime minister Raila Odinga was returned from India, where he was receiving treatment
- As his body arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Raila loyalists rushed to the runway
- Videos captured Raila’s supporters riding motorbikes and carrying vuvuzelas as they gathered at JKIA to welcome the body of the politician
The body of the former prime minister and leader of the Orange Democratic Movement Raila Odingafinally arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Source: Twitter
Cabinet secretaries and ODM officials, including Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna, traveled to India to collect the politician’s body.
After arriving at JKIA, Raila’s body was received by the former president Uhuru Kenyatta and President William Ruto.
Did Raila Odinga’s supporters reach
Loyal supporters of the politician managed to reach JKIA to welcome his body returned from India where he had gone for treatment.
In the videos that TUKO.co.ke watched, supporters were seen running with branches towards the runway as security officers looked on.
Others were seen riding motorbikes, shouting and singing, possibly expressing their grief over Raila’s death.
A crowd carrying branches was seen surrounding the plane Kenya Airways RAO001 which was transporting the body of the deceased.
They were seen closely following every step as the body of the late political heavyweight was taken out of the plane.
“Hey, hey, ODM members, wait for us please. Wait for us please. Wait for us to finish. Wait for them to take his body out of the plane. Give them a little. We want to respect Baba, don’t push them,” a man is heard telling Raila’s supporters.
One might have expected Kenyans to leave the runway after Raila’s body was removed from the plane, but instead, they remained there.
Others took the opportunity to take pictures near the RAO001 plane, possibly as a way to capture the moment Raila’s body arrived in the country.
At the same time, other Kenyans boarded the plane and took their time to explore it.
When will Raila be buried?
President William Ruto established a national committee for Raila’s funeral, headed by the Deputy President Kithur Kindiki and Siaya senator Oburu Odinga.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, October 15, Kindiki said that Raila will be buried on Sunday, October 19, at his farm in Opoda.
The country’s second emir explained that the burial date was set based on the family’s request that Raila be buried within 72 hours.
The family had told the committee that the funeral should be carried out according to Raila’s last wishes before his sudden death.
Other members of Raila’s funeral committee include Cabinet Secretaries, family members of the politician, governors Gladys Wanga of Homa Bay, James Orengo of Siaya, Abdulswamad Shariff of Mombasa, and Anyang’ Nyong’o of Kisumu, as well as representatives from the Senate and the National Assembly.
A delegation of family members, government officials and ODM leaders were sent to India to bring back Raila’s body.
Read ENGLISH VERSION
Do you have an exciting story that you would like us to publish? Please contact us via news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
