How Kenya Airways crew received the call to fly Raila Odinga’s body
By Kiprono Keileb, October 24, 2025For the Kenya Airways crew assigned to bring home the remains of the late Raila Odinga, Wednesday, October 15, 2025, began like any other day. None of them knew they were about to make history, flying one of the most emotional missions the national carrier has ever undertaken.
Captain Saviemaria Aseyo Ondego, stationed in Mumbai that day, was waiting to fly her usual Boeing 737-800 when her phone rang. The message was brief but heavy. She had been reassigned to bring home the body of Kenya’s longest-serving opposition leader.
“I was in the gym, and by the time I was learning about Raila’s death, I had just come out of the gym. I heard the news at the family group; it was hard for me. I got a message from my boss asking me to prepare to execute the flight. It was a busy day. I read the tribute, and I had a moment where no words were coming out,” she told a local TV station on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
Her voice trembled as she recalled the moment the aircraft’s call sign changed from KQ203 to RAO001 upon entering Kenyan airspace, a symbolic gesture of honour to the late statesman.
“It was me reading the change of plane call sign, I called Nairobi confirming that it is RAO001 when we entered Kenyan space. It’s not about letters and numbers, it is a show in the airspace, it is a guard of honour in the air,” Captain Ondego added.
Also watch: President Ruto reveals how he received news of Raila Odinga’s death.
Unexpected assignment
For Kevin Otiende, an in-flight performance manager, the day also began as routine. “We all heard that Baba was not well. It had been discussed in the media, but at that moment, it was the least I expected to happen,” he said.
Otiende recounted how he learned of Raila’s death through social media before official confirmation came from the president.
“I received a call requesting us to step in to support the team that was going to receive the body. My boss told me what happened and told me to prepare because in the next two hours, I was to go to Mumbai,” he said.
“I knew for sure that this was gonna be a sombre flight because we had lost a patriot, a son of Kenya and a dignified personality.”
Anxiety and pressure
First Officer Moses Mwangi described the tension and emotion on board, but said professionalism guided the crew through.
“There was a lot of anxiety, a lot of pressure, we didn’t let the pressure affect the flight, we did our job that we were trained for despite the emotions,” he said.
As the aircraft descended into Nairobi, more than 58,000 users were tracking the flight live, making it the most followed flight in the world that week. For those on board, it was not just a journey; it was a moment in history.
A flight that carried a nation’s grief, unity, and final farewell, one they say they will never forget.