Calm, and almost sacred silence hung over Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County, on Sunday, October 19, 2025, as the country laid to rest one of its most influential sons, Raila Amolo Odinga. The former prime minister’s final journey ended where his story began — in the quiet compound of his family home.
Unlike the large public ceremonies that had preceded the burial, this was an intimate farewell attended by President William Ruto, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, close family members, friends, and a handful of military officers.
Seventeen gunshots broke the morning stillness, echoing across the village — a final salute to a man who spent his life shaping Kenya’s political direction. As the last sound faded, a deep sense of finality swept through the mourners gathered around the gravesite.
Raila was buried beside his mother, Mary Ajuma Odinga, in accordance with his wishes. His father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and his son, Fidel Castro Odinga, also rest in the same compound — a family that has defined Kenya’s political history for generations.
Before the casket was lowered, his signature hat and fly whisk — symbols long associated with his leadership and identity — were placed beside him, a gesture that captured the essence of the man many simply called “Baba.”
The short ceremony was led by church leaders who offered prayers and hymns before a moment of silence enveloped the mourners. It was a fitting close to a chapter that spanned decades — a life devoted to the pursuit of justice, freedom, and unity.
As the red soil of Bondo covered the casket, it marked not only the end of Raila Odinga’s journey, but the closing of an era that shaped the conscience of a nation.
