Operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport brought to a halt

Operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) were brought to a halt on Thursday, with significant flight delays reported, after the arrival of a plane carrying the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The Kenya Airways (KQ) flight landed at approximately 9:30 a.m., drawing large crowds of Odinga’s supporters to Kenya’s main airport. Among them were individuals who gained access to the airside—normally a highly restricted area beyond security checkpoints used exclusively for aircraft operations.

Mourners, some on foot and others riding motorbikes, moved along the taxiways, waving twigs and chanting in tribute to Odinga, who passed away on Wednesday morning after collapsing in Kochi, India.