By James Okoth
Photo||Courtesy
In the early years of Kenya’s push for multiparty democracy, two men — Raila Odinga and Michael “Kijana” Wamalwa — emerged as the faces of hope, courage, and reform. They came from different regions, spoke different political dialects, but shared a single heartbeat: a desire to see Kenya free, fair, and inclusive.
Raila, the son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, was the firebrand reformer shaped by years of detention and resistance. Kijana Wamalwa, a polished lawyer and orator from Trans Nzoia, carried the intellectual flair and national outlook that inspired a generation. Together, they embodied the reform spirit of the 1990s — bold, fearless, and unbowed.
Their friendship blossomed beyond political convenience. They were allies, brothers in struggle, and visionaries who dreamed of a Kenya larger than tribe. Both believed that politics could be civil, ideas could triumph over insults, and unity could outlast elections. In many ways, Wamalwa’s charm and grace softened Raila’s fiery edge, while Raila’s tenacity and mass connection deepened Wamalwa’s political grounding.
When Jaramogi Oginga Odinga passed away in 1994, it was Kijana Wamalwa who took over the leadership of FORD–Kenya — continuing the reformist flame that had united opposition voices. His eloquence and intellectual depth rejuvenated the party, positioning him as a national leader and later Kenya’s seventh Vice President under President Mwai Kibaki in 2003.
That same year, tragedy struck. Wamalwa’s sudden death left Kenya in mourning, and for Raila, it was personal. He travelled to Kitale and mourned Wamalwa in the most symbolic of ways — culturally parading bulls to honour his fallen comrade. It was a gesture steeped in Luhya tradition — a statement that friendship transcends politics, and respect can be spoken in the language of culture. For the Wamalwa family, it was a moment that etched Raila’s name in their hearts.
Years turned to decades, and the circle of history began to close. When Raila Odinga passed away, Kenya once again stood still. His death marked the end of an era — the fall of a democratic giant whose voice had shaped Kenya’s modern political identity. And just as Raila once went to Kitale to honour Kijana, Eugene Wamalwa — Kijana’s brother — made his journey to Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo.
In a deeply cultural act of reciprocity, Eugene arrived with bulls, re–enacting Raila’s gesture in reverse — this time as a tribute from the Wamalwa family to the Odingas. The symbolism was profound: it was not just a cultural offering, but a closing of the circle of friendship, respect, and shared struggle between two families who had walked Kenya’s democratic path together.
“When my brother Kijana rested, Raila came to Kitale with bulls to honour him as a true friend and leader. Today, I return the same gesture — not just in memory, but in gratitude. What he gave to Kenya, and to us as a family, can never be repaid, only remembered,” Eugene said moments after delivering the bulls.
Eugene’s words carried the weight of history. They spoke of continuity — of how leadership and legacy can pass from one generation to another without bitterness or rivalry. The moment placed him in the emotional heart of Kenya’s political story, not as a mere spectator, but as a custodian of his brother’s ideals and Raila’s enduring vision.
As the nation prepares to lay Raila Odinga to rest, Eugene’s gesture at Bondo reminds Kenyans that politics need not erase humanity. It underscores that friendship, respect, and culture still have a place in public life.
For Eugene Wamalwa, this act may also shape his political future. It situates him in a lineage of reform, empathy, and cross–regional unity — traits that both Raila and Kijana embodied. Whether he builds upon that moral inheritance to redefine his own leadership will depend on how he interprets this symbolic bridge between past and present.
But one truth is clear: the bulls that once travelled to Kitale and now to Bondo carry more than tradition — they carry Kenya’s story of friendship, respect, and political brotherhood that outlives the men who began it.
