By James Okoth
As the nation mourned Raila Odinga, emotions were raw, loyalties were fluid, and symbolism mattered more than statements. In that moment, the Odinga family projected reconciliation. They called for restraint, peace, and unity even as tempers flared.
But among ODM loyalists, particularly those perceived to be Raila’s political heirs, the tone was the exact opposite.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, alongside several vocal ODM legislators, came out swinging, issuing warnings, drawing political lines and even barring leaders like Rigathi Gachagua and his allies from setting foot in Bondo.
It was a move that played well to the gallery of party hardliners but jarred deeply against the family’s posture.
The Odinga household had just invited everyone, including perceived rivals, to Raila’s burial site. They wanted the final farewell to be a symbol of the statesman’s legacy, a bridge-builder to the very end.
Wanga and her allies missed that cue. Their combative tone drowned out the humility and grace that Raila’s family embodied in grief. What was meant to be a national moment of unity risked sliding into a political turf war.
Insiders close to the Odinga family have since hinted that the family’s silence was deliberate, a quiet rebuke to those who sought to politicize the mourning period.
In contrast, when Oburu Odinga and Ruth Odinga spoke while hosting a string of guest from the political divide, they offered warmth, not walls. They acknowledged differences, but emphasized Raila’s wish for peace — a gesture that resonated across the political divide.
In the end, the family’s message was clear: While politics built Raila’s career, grace will define his legacy and those who missed that message, however loyal, misread the room and the moment.
Ruth Odinga, Raila Odinga’s sister and Kisumu woman member of Parliament would later expose the misplaced emotions of Wanga and allies, telling a twisted story of the Odinga’s they almost forced on Kenyans.
“The Jaramogi family aside, the luo and Kikuyu nations have a long and winding history. Growing up, hatred between the Kikuyu and Luo communities was alien.” She said. “We must rise above divisive ethnic undertones to forge a more united nation.” She emphasized.
