Raila Odinga Junior, son of former Kenyan Prime Minister and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Amolo Odinga, was on Thursday officially installed as the new head of the Odinga family during a solemn and colourful traditional ceremony held at the family’s ancestral home in Kang’o ka Jaramogi, Bondo about 60km (40 miles) west of Kisumu.
The event, steeped in Luo cultural customs and symbolism, came just four days after the burial of his father, whose passing marked the end of an era in Kenya’s political and cultural landscape.
The ceremony, presided over by Siaya Senator and Odinga’s elder brother Oburu Oginga, symbolised the formal transfer of family leadership to the late statesman’s only surviving son, Raila Odinga Junior following the passing on of Fidel Castro Odinga in 2015.
The day’s proceedings began with the “liedo” ritual — a traditional Luo shaving ceremony performed to mark the end of mourning and the beginning of renewal. According to custom, the ritual is typically conducted four days after burial, known in Dholuo as chieng’ mar ang’wen, symbolising cleansing and continuity within the homestead.
Family members, relatives, and community elders gathered as traditional dancers and singers filled the compound with rhythmic chants and drumbeats, creating an atmosphere of cultural pride and remembrance.
As tradition dictates, the shaving was performed by one of Raila Junior’s grandmothers, representing the elder women of the lineage.
Three symbolic cuts were made before a full shave, signifying purification and the formal transition of authority from the deceased patriarch to his heir.
After the shaving, Raila Junior was presented with a spear and a traditional Luo shield, along with an animal-skin cloak — instruments symbolising defense, leadership, and responsibility. He then performed a brief traditional dance to mark his assumption of leadership as the new head of the household.
Speaking during the event, Oginga emphasised that the ceremony was a domestic and cultural transition, not a political one.
“This is not political leadership but leadership of the home. The seat of power in this homestead is now with Junior, together with his mother. The mother will continue to advise and guide him, but he must stand firm and lead the home in accordance with our traditions,” he said.
Oginga further clarified that while Raila Junior now assumes leadership of his father’s immediate household, the larger Odinga family remains under his (Oburu’s) cultural stewardship.
“The larger Odinga family, which I chair and lead, is still under me just as his father was when it came to cultural leadership,” he said.
Luo customs dictate that about four days after the burial of a patriarch, a succession rite must be performed to ensure continuity and harmony within the family. The ceremony not only marks the end of mourning but also reaffirms the family’s connection to its ancestors.
Historically, the liedo ritual was performed near a river or body of water, symbolising cleansing and the washing away of death’s shadow.
While modern families now perform it within their homesteads, the symbolism of renewal and spiritual transition remains deeply significant.
Elders present at the ceremony explained that such rites trace their origins to ancient beliefs that the deceased do not cease to exist but instead transition into the ancestral realm, continuing to guide and protect the living.
“Even in the Bible, there was Isaac and Jacob, and Esau the father gave blessings to his sons. The same concept applies in our culture. Blessings and ceremonies to pass authority have always been part of both our faith and our traditions,” Oginga said.
The day’s highlight concluded with the symbolic dispersal of mourners, a practice marking the official closure of the funeral period.
Traditionally, family members leave the homestead in order of seniority, with the eldest departing first and the youngest last, signifying that grief is gradually giving way to normalcy and continuity.
Elders recalled that similar rites were observed when the family patriarch and father to the late Raila Odinga, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, was buried — reinforcing the Odinga family’s deep commitment to preserving Luo cultural heritage even amid modernity.
“We do not disregard culture. These traditions keep us connected to our roots and ensure peace and unity within the lineage,” Oginga said.
Odinga, who served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013, died on Wednesday last week at the age of 80 after a reported cardiac arrest whilst undergoing treatment in India for an undisclosed illness.
Despite losing five presidential elections, including his most recent bid in 2022, Odinga remained a central figure in Kenya’s opposition political landscape with his passing leaving a significant void ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Raila Odinga Junior now carries forward both the cultural mantle of his lineage and the legacy of leadership that has defined the Odinga name for generations.