Kenya bid a final farewell to opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga on Sunday, October 19, 2025, in a deeply symbolic burial at his ancestral home in Bondo, Siaya County.
Odinga, 80, passed away in India following a cardiac arrest. His death triggered a nationwide outpouring of grief, culminating in a state funeral attended by thousands of mourners and dignitaries from across Africa.
A Leader Remembered
Known affectionately as “Baba,” Odinga was celebrated as a champion of democracy, a pan-African statesman, and a tireless advocate for constitutional reform. Though he never became president despite five attempts, his legacy includes Kenya’s return to multi-party democracy and the landmark 2010 constitution.
President William Ruto, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo were among the leaders who paid tribute.
Ruto described Odinga as a “unifier” and acknowledged the personal loss.
“Many commentators in the newspapers said this was a big blow to William Ruto. Yes, it was a big blow.”
“I loved his sense of humour. No matter how serious things were, Raila would find a way to reduce the tension. I have lost a brother, a friend, a confidant, and a co-worker,” said Obasanjo.
Military Honours and Cultural Rites
Odinga was accorded full national and military honours, including a 17-gun salute and the ceremonial Last Post by the Kenya Defence Forces. His casket, draped in the Kenyan flag, was laid to rest beside his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first Vice President.
The burial blended state protocol with Luo traditions. From the formal death announcement (Kelo Yuak) to the grave-digging ritual (Kunyo) and the overnight vigil (Budho), each stage affirmed the Luo belief in death as a transition—not an end.
Mourners lined the roads waving green leaves (oboke), chanting ‘jowi’ and singing ancestral songs as the body returned home in a procession known as golo. The final rite, Iko, committed Odinga to the earth with prayers, songs, and blessings.
A Nation in Mourning
Stampedes during earlier public viewings in Nairobi left five dead and hundreds injured, underscoring the emotional intensity of the farewell. Security was tight in Bondo, where thousands gathered for the final ceremony.
Odinga’s death leaves a leadership vacuum in Kenya’s opposition, with no clear successor ahead of the 2027 elections. Yet his legacy endures in the constitution, in the democratic space he fought for, and in the hearts of millions.
Raila is survived by his wife, Ida Odinga, and their children Rosemary, Raila Jr., and Winnie. His firstborn son, Fidel Odinga, died in 2015.
As dawn broke over Bondo, the silence of loss gave way to song, prayer, and remembrance. Raila Odinga’s spirit, carried home by tradition and tribute, now rests in the soil of his ancestors.
