By Anderson Ojwang’
In a move aimed at retracing and seeking ancestral blessings and providence, Jaoko Oburu on Friday visited the Shrine of King Nabongo of Mumia in Mumias.
At Jaramogi’s mausoleum hangs a photo of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s father, when he served as the aide-de-camp and stood guard to King Nabongo Mumia of the Wanga Kingdom around 1890.
According to the late Raila Odinga, the 1890 photograph is proof of the historical ties with the Wanga Kingdom and a testimony that the family is a direct descendant of King Nabongo Mumia.
Jaoko, son to the current ODM party leader Dr. Oburu Odinga, was hosted at the palace by Nabongo Peter Mumia II, in a tour of the mausoleum and a visit to the graveside of the King.
Jaoko was also inducted into the family lineage and the relationship between King Mumia and the people of Sakwa, highlighting the importance of his visit.
“When Raila visited this place, he proved it to himself and that is why he came to launch this place in 2008. Raila was the one who launched this centre.
He is part of this family. When we remember where we migrated from, previously it was called Ka-Sakwa.
People from that place were called Jo Sakwa. If you look at this chart, Wanga Kingdom, the person Wanga III lived in Lela, Kawango, behind Maseno School. It is where one of our ancestors was born.
Wanga the King has brothers including Sakwa, where you belong, and the lineage goes up to the late Raila Odinga,” the King explained.
Jaoko said the visit was important after the King invited him during Raila’s burial in October.
“It was a very important moment with the King. He inducted me and later offered his blessings in all my pursuits.
I am more prepared and you could see the convoy that escorted me from the home into Kakamega town. I later, in the evening, presided over a function in Vihiga County and was hosted by Governor Wilber Ottichilo,” he said.
After the conclusion of the visit, Jaoko was escorted to Kakamega town on his way back to Bondo in a convoy of tuk-tuks and motorcycle riders as they snaked through the town, waving and greeting residents from the rooftop of his vehicle.
“I went to visit the King. I have come here to condole with you after the death of Baba. It is important that we maintain Raila’s legacy, and that is why I want us to work together, including the boda boda sector,” he said.
He wrote on his X handle:
“It was an honor to deliver a keynote address at the Vihiga County Business Awards 2025 Edition at Kaimosi Friends University. The theme, ‘Honoring Excellence Shaping Enterprise Development,’ perfectly captures our shared mission to strategically build a more inclusive and prosperous economic future of Vihiga County. A big thank you to Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo for gracing this important event and being a champion of youth-led, women-led, and PWD-led enterprises.”
Jaoko has been engaging Bunge La Wananchi across the country in a move viewed as an attempt to extend his political tentacles to potentially inherit his late uncle Raila’s political constituency.
He wrote on his X handle:
“It was an honor to engage Bunge La Wananchi in Siaya.”
“Those who want to divide the Luo community must be rejected. Raila left us united, and we must remain in broad-based government, and that is why I am here,” he said.
But Jaoko will have to contend with his cousin Winnie Odinga, who also eyes the mantle and recently called for the ODM National Delegates Conference (NDC) to appoint a new team to manage the broad-based arrangement with President Ruto.
On Wednesday, opposition leader George Wajackoyah claimed Raila’s spirit had descended on Winnie as the heir apparent.
Crying and calling Winnie’s name, and asking where she probably could be, he circled the grave chanting that Raila’s spirit had descended on his last-born daughter, Winnie.
“Let me sound this warning. I am sounding it openly. Whoever is trying to play his foul mouth on Min Piny’s daughter Winnie Odinga — and I spoke with her yesterday — try me.
Baba’s spirit is here. If you are running your mouth on Winnie, try me. Winnie, where are you? I will support you. Anybody who dares Winnie, that is a direct attack on me.
Baba is not dead, the spirit is with Winnie. As the elder brother from Mumias, I will defend Winnie,” he mourned.
Mama Ida Odinga, speaking to the team, confirmed that what Wajackoyah had said was the true position.
“You know Wajackoyah is a very open person. He says things as they are. He doesn’t know how to sugarcoat his words and make them flowery.
If it is bad, it is bad, and if it is right, it is right — and he will say it as it is. This trait of his he started much earlier, way back in 1991, when he got into problems with the system because he revealed some secrets which were not supposed to be revealed,” she said.
