Migori Senator Eddie Oketch has arrived at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Opoda,
Bondo, ahead of the burial of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Oketch entered the compound dressed in traditional Luo regalia, a clear sign
of respect for cultural tradition, carrying a spear and with twigs on his
shoulders.
The spear, an ancient symbol of courage, defence and leadership, was
seemingly meant to reflect the enduring struggle and vigour associated with
Raila’s life.
The twigs, meanwhile, carry more subtle meaning: in Luo custom, they often
serve as a connection to the ancestral realm, a gesture of linking the living
with the departed and inviting the community to gather around memory and
continuity.
The senator, who was a close ally of Raila, was visibly overcome by emotion,
with tears flowing freely, before he wiped them.
His voice caught, his sobs audible, reflecting the personal depth of his
grief and the weight of the occasion.
Raila will be laid to rest on Sunday, and in preparation, his home at has
already begun receiving a steady stream of dignitaries and mourners seeking to
pay their respects.
Among the early arrivals are Oketch and Trans Nzoia Governor George
Natembeya.
Mama Ida Odinga has also arrived.
While a full list remains fluid, reports indicate that members of the
national funeral committee and representatives of regional leadership have
already arrived to coordinate tomorrow’s burial.
The body of the opposition leader is currently at Mamboleo Stadium in Kisumu
for public viewing.
Later in the evening, Raila’s body will be air-lifted to the ancestral farm
in Bondo for the final night vigil.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo confirmed that the body will not
be transported by road as earlier planned. Instead, it will be flown directly
from Kisumu’s Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium to Bondo for logistical and
security reasons.
Omollo said the decision was reached after consultations with the National
Funeral Steering Committee and the family, to ensure the late opposition leader
receives a dignified and well-coordinated send-off.
Tomorrow’s burial will not only mark the end of a political era, but will also be deeply anchored in local ritual and personal loss.
