Kochi: The mortal remains of former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who died at a private hospital in Koithattukulam, began its final journey home on Wednesday night. 

Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, on behalf of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, paid floral tributes to him at Kochi International Airport. Odinga's remains were flown on a special flight to Mumbai, from where they will be repatriated to Kenya in another flight.

At the airport, Governor Arlekar paid his final respects, remembering the late statesman as a great friend of India. In a statement, the Governor conveyed the nation's condolences.

“Deeply saddened by the passing of former Prime Minister of Kenya, Mr Raila Odinga. He was a towering statesman and a cherished friend of India. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Kenya,” he said. 

The procedures were coordinated by the Kenyan High Commissioner to India, Peter Maina Munyiri, who had flown in from Delhi to the Ernakulam Government Medical College to oversee the arrangements. Following Odinga's unexpected death at Devamatha Hospital in Koothattukulam, an inquest was conducted, and a postmortem was completed around 5 pm at the medical college.

Odinga, a towering figure in Kenyan politics, had come to Kerala for Ayurvedic treatment after receiving initial care for a minor stroke in Mumbai. He collapsed during a morning walk on Wednesday and was rushed to nearby Devamatha Hospital. But the doctors could not revive him and he was pronounced dead at 9.52 am. His sudden passing in India has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Kenya, where his recent absence had already fueled intense speculation.