Kenya Airways Captain Saviemaria Ondego has shared her emotional experience flying the body of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga from Mumbai, India, to Nairobi, describing the flight as unlike any other in her career.
In a video released by Kenya Airways, Captain Ondego said the journey carried a deep emotional weight.
“There was heaviness in the responsibility to our country that made it not a normal flight,” she said.
The Kenya Airways flight, KQ203, departed Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 6:23 a.m. Kenyan time with Raila’s remains, his family, and a delegation of 30 leaders on board. The Boeing 737-800 touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 9:30 a.m.
According to global air traffic monitoring service Flightradar24, KQ203 became the most tracked flight in the world that day, with over 10,800 people monitoring its journey from takeoff to landing.
Captain Ondego recalled the emotional moment she tried to address passengers through the intercom.
“To be honest, I went to speak and nothing came out. I had to step back, take a deep breath, and try again. My voice was a little shaky, but it was important to me,” she said.
When she finally spoke, her message filled the cabin with a sense of unity and mourning.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Today, we acknowledge a significant loss felt across Kenya and Africa. On behalf of the Kenya Airways family, we extend our deepest condolences on the passing of the Right Honourable Raila Amolo Odinga,” she said.
Captain Ondego went on to describe Raila as “a visionary leader and passionate Pan-Africanist whose influence transcended borders.”
“His advocacy helped shape Kenya Airways’ growth across Africa, and his legacy will continue to inspire us as we pursue greatness and unity in propelling Africa’s prosperity,” she added.
Kenya Airways’ Inflight Performance Manager, Jason Mose, who was part of the crew, said the experience was deeply humbling.
“It was overwhelming as an individual, and I knew I had to go. It was an honour for me, mandated by the company, to accompany the flight,” he said.
The arrival of Raila’s body at JKIA marked one of the most emotional moments in Kenya’s history, as thousands gathered to welcome home a man celebrated for his lifelong fight for democracy, justice, and unity.
Also Read: Ida Odinga Arrives at Opoda Farm Ahead of Raila’s Burial
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