As Kenya continues to mourn the death of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, a touching story has emerged from within the aviation sector. A young Civil Aviation officer, Mutuku William Mwanza, has revealed that it was his greatest honor to change the callsign of the Kenya Airways aircraft that ferried the late statesman’s body from Mumbai, India, to Nairobi—from KQA203 to RAO001.
“My greatest honor has been changing the callsign of the aircraft bringing Baba home from KQA203 to RAO001. He could not come in as Kenya Airways,” said Mutuku, who was on duty on the day the historic flight touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
On October 16, Kenya Airways confirmed that it had changed the flight code in honor of the fallen leader, adopting the special callsign RAO001 derived from Raila’s initials—Raila Amolo Odinga. The gesture was meant to pay homage to a man whose name has for decades been synonymous with Kenya’s struggle for democracy, justice, and good governance.
According to Mutuku a callsign is used to identify an aircraft in flight and that special designations are often assigned to aircraft carrying high-profile figures. “If it belongs to Tanzania and President Samia Suluhu is on board, then the flight would read Tanzania 001. For Eliud Kipchoge’s marathon flight, it was INEOS. In this case, it was only right that we call it RAO001,” he said.
Mutuku further explained that the decision to give Raila’s final flight a unique identifier was not just procedural but emotional. “It was his last landing on the soil. There was excitement when people read RAO’s initials on the callsign and said it was a great honor,” he said, adding that the aircraft was tracked by more than 30,000 people globally, with some from as far as Malaysia asking who ‘RAO’ was.
Kenya Airways later issued a statement noting that the move was intended to pay tribute to Raila’s immense contribution to the country, both as a statesman and as a former Minister for Roads, Public Works, and Transport. The airline also honored the crew that flew the body home, describing their service as part of a solemn national moment that will be remembered for years.
Mutuku said he had long admired Raila’s courage and ideas, and giving the aircraft a special callsign was his personal way of honoring a man he considered a symbol of resilience and hope. “He was not just any passenger. He was Kenya’s son, a global figure, and a hero. Changing that callsign was my way of saying ‘thank you’ for his sacrifice,” he added.
As the aircraft bearing the code RAO001 touched down on Kenyan soil, the moment was not just the return of a national hero—it was a flight that carried the soul of a nation united in grief and gratitude.
