{"id":123188,"date":"2025-10-16T07:05:34","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T07:05:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/index.php\/2025\/10\/16\/kq203-changes-call-sign-to-rao001-as-raila-odingas-body-enters-kenyan-airspace\/"},"modified":"2025-10-16T07:05:34","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T07:05:34","slug":"kq203-changes-call-sign-to-rao001-as-raila-odingas-body-enters-kenyan-airspace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/kq203-changes-call-sign-to-rao001-as-raila-odingas-body-enters-kenyan-airspace\/","title":{"rendered":"KQ203 changes call sign to RAO001 as Raila Odinga\u2019s body enters Kenyan airspace"},"content":{"rendered":"

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 16 \u2014 The Kenya Airways flight ferrying the body of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga from India has officially changed its call sign from KQ203 to RAO001 as it entered Kenyan airspace Thursday morning \u2014 a symbolic gesture of respect for the departed opposition icon.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The aircraft, which departed Kochi early Thursday, is expected to touch down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 9.30 am, where it will be received by President William Ruto, members of the Odinga family, and senior government officials.<\/p>\n

The call sign \u201cRAO001\u201d \u2014 derived from Odinga\u2019s initials and the presidential-style numeric designation \u2014 is being used exclusively for this flight to honor his legacy as a statesman and symbol of Kenya\u2019s democratic struggle.<\/p>\n

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, co-chair of the National Funeral Committee, on Wednesday evening confirmed that the burial will take place on Sunday at the Odinga family home in Bondo, Siaya County, following an agreement to extend the late leader\u2019s wish to be laid to rest within 72 hours of his death.<\/p>\n

Kindiki said the government was working closely with the Odinga family and the ODM party \u201cto ensure a dignified farewell that honors both his personal wishes and his national stature.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following arrival in Nairobi, the body will be taken to Parliament Buildings for public viewing from 12 noon to 5 pm, before being transferred to Lee Funeral Home.<\/p>\n

Friday State Funeral <\/h2>\n

A state funeral service will be held on Friday at Nyayo National Stadium, to be attended by local and international dignitaries, after which the body will be moved to the Odinga family\u2019s Karen residence for an overnight vigil.<\/p>\n

Detention, constitutional reform and handshakes: Raila Odinga bows out at 80 \u00bb Capital News (capitalfm.co.ke)<\/a><\/p>\n

On Saturday, the body will be flown to Kisumu, where members of the public will view it at Moi Stadium from 9 am to 3 pm, before it is transported by road to Bondo for a final vigil ahead of Sunday\u2019s burial.<\/p>\n

Kindiki committee slots Raila burial on Sunday after consensus to vary 72-hour wish \u00bb Capital News (capitalfm.co.ke)<\/a><\/p>\n

Indian doctors inserted tube into Raila\u2019s respiratory system in desperate effort to save him \u00bb Capital News (capitalfm.co.ke)<\/a><\/p>\n

Kindiki appealed for peace and unity during the mourning period, urging Kenyans to emulate Odinga\u2019s message of tolerance and national cohesion.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a solemn moment in our nation\u2019s history,\u201d he said. \u201cWe will give the Right Honourable Raila Amolo Odinga a farewell befitting a statesman who defined our democratic journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

President Ruto declared seven days of national mourning, with flags flying at half-mast across the country and in all Kenyan missions abroad.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 16 \u2014 The Kenya Airways flight ferrying the body of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga from India has officially changed its call sign from KQ203 to RAO001 as it entered Kenyan airspace Thursday morning \u2014 a symbolic gesture of respect for the departed opposition icon. The aircraft, which departed Kochi early […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-123188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123188","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123188"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123188\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}