Plane Carrying Raila Odinga Becomes World’s Most Tracked Flight as Kenya Airways Honors Him With Special Call Sign ‘RAO001’

The Kenya Airways flight carrying the body of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga from Mumbai to Nairobi became the most tracked plane in the world on Thursday as millions of people across the globe followed its solemn journey home in real time.

According to live air traffic monitoring service Flightradar24, flight KQ203, a Boeing 737-800, topped the global tracking charts with more than 10,800 people watching its progress from takeoff to descent.

The aircraft departed Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 6:23 a.m. Kenyan time and is expected to touch down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 9:30 a.m.

Kenya Airways announced that the flight’s call sign would change from KQ203 to RAO001 once it entered Kenyan airspace, a symbolic gesture to honour the late Raila Odinga whose initials, RAO, have long been synonymous with Kenya’s struggle for democracy.

“This is a gesture of national respect and recognition of a man whose journey inspired generations,” the airline said in a statement.

From Nairobi to Kisumu, and across cities like London, Johannesburg and Washington, thousands logged onto tracking apps to monitor the plane’s progress across the Arabian Sea.

For many, the moving dot on their screens represented more than a flight; it marked the return of a national hero whose political career shaped Kenya’s modern history.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who led the government delegation to India, confirmed that all arrangements for the repatriation of Raila’s body had been completed.

“We have secured his body and preparations are complete for his return home,” Mudavadi said on X.

“The aircraft carrying the body of this great son of Kenya is scheduled to land at JKIA at 9:30 a.m., where he will be received by President William Ruto and the nation he so dearly loved.”

Upon arrival, the plane will be received by President Ruto, members of the Odinga family and senior government officials.

The casket, draped in the Kenyan flag, will then be taken to Lee Funeral Home before being moved to Parliament Buildings for public viewing.

Members of the public will be allowed to pay their last respects between noon and 5 p.m., while giant screens will be set up in major towns to allow Kenyans across the country to follow the proceedings.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced through a Gazette Notice that Friday, October 17, will be observed as a public holiday in honour of the former Prime Minister.

The decision, he said, was to give the nation a moment to collectively reflect on the life and legacy of Raila Odinga.

“Friday, the 17th October 2025, shall be a public holiday in honour of the departed former Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga,” read part of the notice.

A State Funeral Service will be held at Nyayo Stadium on Friday morning, after which the body will be flown to Kisumu on Saturday and then transported to his Bondo home in Siaya County for burial on Sunday.

This will be in accordance with Raila’s wishes that he be laid to rest within seventy-two hours of his death.

Raila Odinga, 80, died on Wednesday morning at Devamatha Hospital in Kochi, India, after suffering a cardiac arrest.

He had travelled to India for specialised treatment but passed away hours after admission.

His death has plunged the country into deep mourning, prompting President Ruto to declare seven days of national mourning and order flags to fly at half-mast.

As the Kenya Airways plane bearing the special call sign RAO001 descends into Nairobi, it carries not only the remains of a statesman but also the grief, admiration and gratitude of a nation bidding farewell to one of its most enduring leaders.

More than 10,000 people are currently tracking Kenya Airways flight KQ302, making it the most followed flight on popular flight tracking app Flightradar24. The plane is carrying the body of Raila Odinga from Mumbai, India, to Nairobi, Kenya.