Raila Arrives in Kenya After Dubai Surgery

File image of ODM leader Raila Odinga disembarking a plane
File image of ODM leader Raila Odinga disembarking a plane
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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga arrived back in the country on Sunday, July 12, from Dubai where he had traveled to undergo what was described as a minor surgery.

Odinga landed a the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in a private jet at around 9.39 p.m. in a private jet.

The jet, an Airbus A318-112(CJ) Elite A6-CAS, MS4211 was the same one used by Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and Suna East MP Junet Mohammed who traveled to Dubai to see Raila on Thursday, July 9.

A quick search on multiple flight tracking platforms confirmed that the jet departed Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai at 5:13 p.m. on Sunday, July 12.

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From left: Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho with ODM leader Raila Odinga and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed in Dubai on Thursday, July 9, 2020
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Raila's spokesperson Dennis Onyango as well as Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Communications Director Philip Etale were yet to respond to related queries made by Kenyans.co.ke by the time of publication.

Reports had indicated that Raila would make no public appearances for two weeks after arriving in Kenya as he was expected to self-quarantine at home in line with Covid-19 regulations.

Unlike past occasions when Raila was met at the airport by thousands of supporters after returning from trips abroad, little fanfare characterised his arrival from Dubai.

“Baba would have been welcomed by his supporters, but I don’t think that will be the case. To me the important thing is that the surgery went on well and he is recovering well at least by the reports that we have heard far seen,” ODM chairman John Mbadi had told reporters.

Notably, the flight tracking sites also indicated that the jet was initially scheduled to depart for Lusaka, Zambia on June 12. It was diverted back to Dubai as it flew over Saudi Arabia on its way to Zambia.

Raila underwent surgery at the Saudi German Hospital (SGH) Dubai and was seen to be in high spirits in a video shared by his daughter Winnie Odinga as he recuperated.

His return to the country is expected to give fresh impetus to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) process with a referendum looming.

Junet had disclosed that their talks with Raila in Dubai included updating him on happenings in the political arena.

Suna East MP Junet Mohammed and Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho pictured ahead of their trip to Dubai on July 9, 2020
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed and Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho pictured ahead of their trip to Dubai on July 9, 2020
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