The cultural significance of Oburu Odinga's Thursday visit to Raila's rural home

Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga. He says his brother Raila Odinga will be given a dignified send-off in a private family burial next to their parents, attended only by close relatives. (Photo: Handout)

By Barack Oduor
Thursday, October 16, 2025

Speaking in Dholuo while surrounded by close family members, Oburu emotionally explained the circumstances under which Raila died to his Sakwa Kowak clan of Bondo.

When the elder brother of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga boarded a chopper to Raila's Opoda Farm on Thursday afternoon, he was fulfilling a cultural ritual among the Luo Community.

Despite Raila's sudden death being known nationally, Oburu was officially taking the information that the late veteran politician had lost his life.

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Speaking in Dholuo while surrounded by close family members, Oburu emotionally explained the circumstances under which Raila died to his Sakwa Kowak clan of Bondo.

"I come here with the news of my younger brother, Raila Odinga. We were shocked about this because we didn't expect it to happen this way. I have come to break the news about his death and to ask you to mourn him in peace and welcome visitors to his compound," said Oburu.

According to the Luo Community cultural customs, Oburu performed the "tero ywak", which means officially going to break the news about someone's death. In the customs, someone of Raila's calibre is having his death announced by a prominent and respected member of the family.

According to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga family, it is Oburu who is the chairman of the family and the eldest brother who is suited to break the news about the death.

President William Ruto, Senator Oburu Odinga and Ida Odinga at JKIA on October 16, 2025. (PCS)

He painfully narrated why the veteran politician should be interred within three days.

"It is my brother who wanted his remains to be buried within 72 hours. This has put us into working with the strict timelines to respect his final wishes," said Oburu.

He too explained that they were astonished by the huge crowds that turned out at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to receive the body, therefore making the journey to Lee Funeral Home and Parliament impossible.

"The crowds at the airport were big. We had to stop the initial plans of having the body taken to Lee Funeral Home and Parliament," narrated Oburu.

According to the customs of the Luo, Oburu will hold meetings with the closer Jaramogi family and clan to prepare the burial of Raila because, in Luo customs, a man belongs to his clan and not necessarily his immediate family.

"We will be having meetings with family members and members of the clan at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga home located at Nyamira Kang'o," said Oburu.

At Nyamira Kang'o or Kang'o Ka Jaramogi, as it is locally known, there's the imposing, magnificent mausoleum of Kenya's doyen of opposition politics, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, who served as the first Vice President of Kenya and in various capacities, including being Bondo MP.

It is at Nyamira Kang'o where Raila will be buried next to his closest kin, like father, mother and even his son Fidel Odinga, who died some years back.