Nairobi, Kenya: The military aircraft carrying bodies of the fallen Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) officials arrived at Wilson airport at exactly 9.55 pm, Monday night.
They four caskets were received in an elaborate military parade that was attended by the Cabinet Secretary for Defense Raychelle Omamo, Chief of Defense Forces General Samson Mwathethe, The Kenya Air Force Commander Maj Gen Samuel Thuita and other top military officials.
When the plane touched down, a team of eleven soldiers marched towards the cargo section of the aircraft to receive the caskets that were draped in the Kenyan flag.
In the darkness of the night, the soldiers walked slowly, one calculated step after another as they carried the caskets shoulder high towards the waiting tables that were laid before the religious leaders who were to preside over the function.
When the bodies were placed on the table, the soldiers removed the guns from their holders and placed them facing down in a symbolic message that meant the journey of battle had come to an end for the fallen heroes.
"There is devastation in our heart when we think about the pain the fallen heroes must have gone through as they faced death in the face," said Major Reverent Habil Nakhumwa who was one of the religious leaders presiding over the event.
Other religious leaders included Major Imam Abdinoor and LA Col Father George Mainga who both delivered a message of peace amidst ruins and war.
Omamo described the moment as sombre for both the KDF fraternity and the entire nation, saying search rescue is ongoing and more soldiers, both fallen and alive are expected to get back into the country in the course of the week.
She further called for patience, adding that the issue they are dealing with is complicated and they want to handle it with utmost care before relaying information to the affected families.
At exactly 10.20 pm, the military parade to honor the fallen heroes came to an end, and their soldiers carried the bodies of their colleagues to the waiting ambulances parked towards the airport's gate.
Their faces told of the pain they carried in their hearts as they lifted their dead colleagues. Even though they stared straight ahead and watched every step they took, the silence of the night and the darkness could not hide the emotions that were registered all over.
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