The body of the former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, has been accorded a symbolic water cannon salute upon landing at Kisumu International Airport.

This is part of the military honours being extended to the late former Prime Minister, following the proclamation by President William Ruto during his official announcement of Raila Odinga’s death.

The water cannon salute is a symbolic aviation tradition usually reserved for members of the aviation fraternity. It is typically performed to honour a retiring pilot or to mark the launch of a new airline, where two fire engines spray arcs of water over an aircraft as it passes between them.

The aircraft on which Raila was aboard is known as Spatan Kenyan Air Force One and is only reserved for VVIPs such as the president and the chief of defence forces (CDF).

This is the second time Raila Odinga has received such an honour. The first was upon the arrival of his body at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) from India, where he passed away aboard the famous RAO001. The aircraft, which became the most tracked flight globally, changed its tail number from KQ203 to RAO001 upon entering Kenyan airspace.

The body left JKIA on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 6:50 am, and after a 30-minute flight, it finally landed in Kisumu. It was escorted by a military helicopter that took off simultaneously from Embakasi Airbase, with both aircraft touching down at the same time.

Situation at Mamboleo Stadium

Meanwhile, there is a beehive of activity at Mamboleo Stadium ahead of the public viewing of Raila Odinga’s body.

Different military units are already at the stadium, ready to receive the body of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The viewing will allow residents of Nyanza and Raila’s long-time supporters to pay their final respects, with Kisumu chosen as the central location for the exercise.

Military officers have already prepared the area where the body will lie in state. They are conducting final touches to ensure everything is in order once the body arrives. The platform where the casket will rest has been laid with a red carpet and an orange cloth symbolic of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) colours, which Raila has led since 2005.

Various security agencies are on site to maintain order during the viewing. National Youth Service (NYS) personnel are also assisting the military to ensure the viewing proceeds smoothly.

 Military personnel began arriving as early as 5:00 a.m. to prepare for the day, while other security officers worked through the night inside the stadium. Kenyans have already started streaming in, with lines stretching as far as Kondele.

The body of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga left the runway on Saturday, October 18, 2025, and is already airborne, scheduled to arrive in Kisumu at 7:30 a.m. The casket is being escorted by another helicopter, which took off shortly after the main aircraft departed.