Business at standstill as Senator Otieno Kajwang’s body arrives in Kisumu

ODM leaders carry the coffin bearing the body of Senator Otieno Kajwang' into a waiting car after it arrived at Kisumu International Airport on November 27, 2014. Thousands of Kisumu residents thronged the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds for a prayer service. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The late Kajwang’s body arrived at Kisumu International Airport at 9am.
  • The hearse carrying the body was escorted by youths waving twigs and chanting “bado mapambano.”
  • Mourners in Kisumu were not allowed to view the senator’s body, perhaps to avoid a repetition of the chaos that marred a prayer event at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park on Wednesday.
  • Hundreds of mourners lined up along the Kisumu-Homa Bay road to receive the body of the late senator.

Businesses in Kisumu was paralysed on Thursday as Senator Otieno Kajwang’s body arrived in the lakeside town.

The late Kajwang’s body arrived at Kisumu International Airport at 9am.

Later, there was a one-hour procession along Oginga Odinga Street to the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground for a public prayer service.

The hearse carrying the body was escorted by youths waving twigs and chanting “bado mapambano,” a slogan popularised by Mr Kajwang'.

Some residents took positions on rooftops to get a better glimpse of the procession.

And perhaps to avoid a repetition of the chaos that marred a prayer event at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park on Wednesday, mourners in Kisumu were not allowed to view the senator’s body.

The hearse carrying the body of the late Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang' is escorted to Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground in Kisumu on November 27, 2014. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

At the Kenyatta Sports Grounds, Cord leader Raila Odinga led other leaders, including governors, senators and MPs, to pay tribute to the senator, whom they described as a loyal leader who fought for the second liberation.

YOUTHS CAUSE STIR

Earlier at the airport, irate ODM youths caused a security scare when they stormed the airport moments after the plane carrying the body arrived.

The youths were angry that they were denied entry into the airport soon after the body was offloaded from a police aircraft.

Police officers had also attempted to block ODM national chairman John Mbadi from entering the airport.

Kisumu Senator Anyang Nyongo and Homa Bay County Woman Representative Gladys Wanga had to intervene.

Some of the security officers at the airport cocked their guns but were restrained by their superiors.

Ruaraka MP Tom Kajwang’ and other family members and the late senator's bodyguard, Michael Kaoga, arrived in another police aircraft.

Other leaders who received the body at the airport were Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti and his Siaya counterpart Cornel Rasanga.

Hundreds of mourners lined up along the Kisumu-Homa Bay road to receive the body of the late senator.

Hundreds of Kisumu residents at the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground, where the the coffin bearing the body of Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang' was taken on November 27, 2014. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

A convoy of more than 300 vehicles escorted the hearse bearing Kajwang's remains.

Upon reaching the Katito-Homa Bay road, hundreds of grief-stricken mourners wailed as the convoy snaked its way to Mbita.

Security officers had a hectic moment trying to control the mourners who thronged the town to have a glimpse of the hearse.

The hearse, however, left without the residents viewing the body due to fears that the massive crowd would damage the coffin.