Flight RAO001 carrying Raila’s body touches down at JKIA

Odinga's body was aboard a Kenya Airways plane, flight KQ 203, accompanied by a delegation of 30 Kenyan leaders and his family. The delegation was dispatched to India on Wednesday evening to facilitate the repatriation.

Upon touchdown, the plane was given the water salute, a ceremonial tradition where airport fire trucks created an arch of water over the aircraft.

The team, led by Odinga's daughter Winnie Odinga, exited the plane as mourners waited outside.

They were received by President William Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Odinga's family members among other leaders.

Kenya Army officers and other attendants then draped the Kenyan flag on the casket before it was wheeled outside.

The plane to Nairobi became the world’s most tracked on Flightradar24 and flight KQA202 to Mumbai was the second-most tracked globally on the popular live air traffic tracking service.

KQ said in an 8 a.m. update that the flight name would be renamed from KQ 203 to RAO001, a reference to Odinga’s name initials, once it reaches Kenya airspace “to honour and respect our departed leader.”

Odinga, 80, passed away after collapsing in the Indian city of Kochi, where he had been under treatment for an undisclosed illness.

After JKIA, the body will be escorted to the Lee Funeral Home and later moved to the Parliamentary buildings in the Nairobi CBD for public viewing as per the four-day state funeral programme released by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki

On Friday, a State funeral service will be held at the Nyayo Stadium, which is expected to be attended by dignitaries and VVIPs from outside Kenya.

The body will be moved to Raila's Karen home for an overnight stay and will leave Nairobi for Kisumu for public viewing at the Moi Stadium on Saturday.

Afterwards, the body travels by road from Kisumu to Bondo for an overnight stay.

The late political premier will be accorded a state funeral with all attendant honours.

DP Kindiki has pointed out that Raila had indicated to the family that he wished to be buried within 72 hours of his death.