Kenyans were overcome with emotion after photos emerged showing the late Raila Odinga’s signature white fedora hat during the final preparations to bring his body home from India. The images, shared widely online, captured a deeply symbolic moment that reminded many of the statesman’s enduring legacy and unmistakable public image.
A delegation led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi arrived in Mumbai to oversee the repatriation of the former prime minister’s remains. Raila’s daughter, Winnie Odinga, and his sister, Ruth Odinga, were present during the solemn handover. Videos captured by Varcity Africa showed the emotional scene as Raila’s casket, draped in the Kenyan flag, was sealed for its final journey home. According to FlightRadar24, the plane departed Mumbai early Thursday morning and was expected to land in Nairobi at 9:50 a.m. local time.
What caught the attention of many was the sight of Raila’s iconic hat placed gently on a beige seat beside family members. Another photo showed the hat resting near the casket before it was loaded onto the plane, a moment that stirred heartbreak and nostalgia among Kenyans.
Social media quickly filled with tributes and memories. “Baba will be back. There is always reincarnation,” wrote Fred Erick. Odero Jowi Jagirango added, “Baba will always rise mysteriously, he’s Agwambo.” Others remembered his resilience and wisdom, with one fan writing, “He knew when to fight and when to make peace… men like him are rare in this cosmos. RIP Agwambo.”
The images of Raila’s hat, long a symbol of his presence and charisma, have become a powerful emblem of loss, a reminder of the man who shaped Kenya’s political soul and left an imprint that time will never erase.
By Risper Akinyi
