By James Okoth
At the quiet, wind swept grounds of Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County, history once again came full circle. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, accompanied by Western Kenya governors, Members of Parliament and senior officials, led a solemn delegation to pay their respects to the late Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, weeks after his burial.
The visit was far more than a courtesy call. It was a deeply symbolic gesture, an affirmation of the Luo, Luhya brotherhood, a friendship that has survived political storms, ideological turns and generational change.
“Stopped by Bondo, a historic cradle of our nation’s independence and a home that embodies Kenya’s enduring story of leadership and resilience, to condole with Mama Ida and the family of my late brother, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga days after we laid him to rest,” Mudavadi said during the visit.
“Mine was just to come again and tell the family that we continue to miss and grieve the loss of a statesman and a mentor to many.” He added.
Flanked by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, governors James Orengo, Fernandes Barasa and Paul Otuoma, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli and former Attorney General Amos Wako, Mudavadi’s presence in Bondo underscored a message older than politics itself, that kinship between the Luo and Luhya runs deeper than party lines.
The Prime CS, who also serves as Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, said the country still feels the void left by Raila’s resolute leadership, yet his legacy, grounded in dignity, diligence, candour and courage, would continue to inspire generations.
“I deeply miss our warm exchanges, ‘Mwana wa Hannah’ and ‘Woud Mary,’ moments that strengthened our friendship beyond politics,” he added. “They reminded us of the bonds of family, faith and our shared hopes for Kenya’s future.”
The emotional moment in Bondo drew from a long lineage of solidarity. The Odinga, Wamalwa friendship, like the Jaramogi, Muliro alliance before it, defined Western Kenya’s political and moral compass for decades.
When Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Masinde Muliro stood shoulder to shoulder during the independence struggle, they envisioned a Kenya anchored in justice, truth and equality. That spirit was later mirrored by Raila Odinga and Kijana Wamalwa, who, despite political differences, always found unity in respect.
In 1994, when Jaramogi died, it was Wamalwa who stood beside Raila in mourning. In 2003, when Wamalwa passed, Raila stood before the nation to honour him. Their sons, by action and tradition, kept alive the conviction that the Luo and Luhya are not just neighbours, they are brothers in destiny.
The atmosphere at Kang’o ka Jaramogi was heavy with memory and meaning. It was not a political rally but a pilgrimage. The leaders laid wreaths, offered prayers and held moments of silence for a man they all called Baba, a celebrated icon of Kenya’s democratic journey.
“We have come here as brothers,” Mudavadi told the mourners. “Our people have shared struggles and triumphs. We will continue to walk together, guided by peace, respect and unity.”
Among the dignitaries was retired Ghanaian President Nana Akufo Addo, who had travelled from Accra to pay tribute to his old friend. Mudavadi thanked him warmly for the gesture.
“Thank you for coming,” he said. “This was your true friend and you came all the way from Ghana to be with us and the family of Raila. It is an honour not just to us but to the people of Kenya.”
Addo had been among the first global leaders to mourn Raila’s death on October 15, noting that “Kenya and Africa have lost a courageous democrat and a tireless fighter for justice.”
Beyond the ceremony, the day in Bondo evoked a shared history that stretches across the borders of Siaya, Busia and Kakamega, where Luo and Luhya families have intermarried, traded and coexisted for generations. Their languages mingle in the markets of Nambale and Luanda, their songs echo in the hills of Maragoli and Asembo and their customs mirror one another in rhythm and respect.
This interwoven identity has been tested by political tides, yet it remains resilient. The two communities have exchanged not just leaders but ideals, courage, hard work and humility.
As the delegation later visited Mama Ida Odinga at the Opoda farm, the mood was reflective but hopeful. The leaders joined the people of Bondo in celebrating the life of Raila Odinga, the reformist who embodied their shared vision for a democratic, just and united Kenya.
Amos Wako called Raila’s death “a national loss,” while Francis Atwoli described him as “a moral compass and the conscience of our politics.”
In their presence, the spirit of unity that bound Jaramogi and Muliro, Raila and Wamalwa, now found continuity in Mudavadi and his peers, a renewed assurance that, even in grief, Western Kenya stands as one family.
As the sun dipped behind the Bondo hills, the symbolism was undeniable. From Jaramogi to Raila, from Muliro to Wamalwa, from Wamalwa to Mudavadi, the chain of brotherhood remains unbroken.
In every condolence visit, every handshake and every moment of remembrance, the Luo and Luhya affirm that their unity is not a political convenience but a cultural covenant.
Politics may divide, but history binds.
The Luo, Luhya friendship has withstood the weight of time, ideology and loss. What began as a political alliance has become a living tradition of brotherhood, respect and shared destiny.
As Musalia Mudavadi’s visit to Kang’o ka Jaramogi reminded the nation, some bonds are not written in manifestos, they are written in memory, sacrifice and love for Kenya.
