Wiper Democratic Movement leader Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka arrived at the late Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga’s Kang’o ka Jaramogi home in Bondo, Siaya County, leading a high-powered delegation from the Wiper Party and the United Opposition.
Accompanying the convoy, over 500 strong, including professionals, and political allies from Ukambani and beyond, was a herd of more than 100 cows (with some reports citing up to 200), presented as a symbolic gesture of mourning and respect for the fallen opposition icon.
The livestock, a traditional Luo custom for honoring the deceased, was gifted directly to Mama Ida Odinga and the family at Opoda Farm, underscoring the deep-rooted alliance between Musyoka and Odinga that spanned decades of shared struggles for democracy.
The visit, delayed from Raila’s swift burial on October 19, 2025, following his sudden death during medical treatment in India, was greenlit by the Odinga family last week to allow friends and allies a chance to pay respects.
Musyoka, dressed in a simple shirt evoking Raila’s iconic style reminiscent of the Agwambo signature, addressed the media earlier in Kisumu, his voice thick with grief: “I am here to mourn my late brother Raila Amollo Odinga, with whom we went to the trenches to give this country a good, reputable, and respectable democratic nation.”
He added a poignant note, declaring, “I am dressed this way to honour the father of Maandamano, Raila Odinga,” a statement that resonated deeply, reflecting his tribute through attire and action.
He hailed Odinga as the “father of maandamano,” crediting him for Kenya’s multiparty revival and the 2010 Constitution, while vowing to safeguard his legacy against “pretenders.”
About the Author
