By James Okoth

Transport and business are thriving again in Bondo.

At Kang’o ka Jaramogi and its surrounding villages, a fleet of cars, matatus and buses in all colours and models has become the new norm.

The road to Bondo now feels alive. From the shores of Kisumu, the tarmac stretches like a silver ribbon under the morning sun. A white Toyota, dust trailing behind, snakes through Ahero, speeds past Akala and finally dips into the winding valleys of Siaya. Inside, passengers lean to the window, some in silence, some lost in thought, others clutching small flags and portraits. Every turn of the wheel feels like a journey home, a tribute in motion.

Children wake early. Before dawn, the small boy from Nyamonye rushes through his morning. He fetches water, feeds the chicken, gulps his tea and runs barefoot to the roadside. There, he joins others, their faces bright with curiosity. Together, they wait for the endless stream of vehicles. Each flashing headlight is a story, each convoy a spectacle. The children cheer, wave and point at the buses. To them, the road is a moving celebration.

Local traders are shifting their focus. The decades-old selling points of Bondo town are losing their grip. New markets are forming near Kang’o and Opoda. Stalls sprout like mushrooms. Vendors move where the people are.

“I used to sell vegetables at the Bondo bus park,” says Jackline Atieno, a trader who now runs a small stall near Kang’o ka Jaramogi. “These days I sell more bottled water and hats than vegetables. People want a memory to take home,” she joyfully remarks.

Public transport is reshaped. One travelling to Bondo is assumed to be heading to either Kang’o ka Jaramogi or Opoda farm. Those catching a ride back are believed to have come from there. The tales from these journeys unite strangers and friends. Each matatu ride becomes a shared story, each passenger a witness to something larger than a burial.

Victor Carilus Okoth, a matatu operator belonging to Bungoma line and used to ply Kisumu-Siaya route but shifted to Kisumu-Bondo, says the roads are never empty. “From dawn to dusk, our vehicles are full,” he says. “It is like a pilgrimage. People come to see, to feel, to belong,” he says, clutching the steering wheel ready to takeoff.

New trades have emerged. Caps and hats called the “Raila Odinga hat.” Luo relics. Branded T-shirts and wristbands. Emotion, passion and pride drive both sellers and buyers.

Online, the words “Bondo,” “Opoda farm,” and “Kang’o ka Jaramogi” top search engines.

Locals say the Enigma saw it all coming. He had the roads tarmacked, the paths widened. They ask, what would this movement have looked like if the roads were still rough and dusty?

As dusk falls, a bus leaves Bondo. Its windows glow gold in the fading light. Inside, passengers sit shoulder to shoulder, some holding souvenirs, others humming quiet tunes. A woman clutches a folded T-shirt, a young man scrolls through photos of Kang’o, while an old man whispers stories of the Enigma he once met. Their faces carry conviction, pride and peace. The hum of the bus mingles with laughter and silence alike.

Bondo disappears behind them, still alive, still calling.

What began as mourning has turned into motion.

And motion, here in Bondo, is life.

By Anderson Ojwang

On Saturday, at Serena Hotel, when she strode to the podium with a burst of a smile on her face as the audience and dignitaries rose clapping to welcome her to give a speech, Margaret Koskei was lost in her own world.
In the slow and calculated walk, with a burst of a smile on the corner of her face and the drowning claps and applause, lay the deep secret she bore in her heart.

Margaret walked to the podium into two worlds only known to her and her husband, Mr. Felix Koskei, Head of Public Service — the worlds that shaped her life from childhood to date.
Smartly dressed in radiant blue, Margaret climbed the podium to give her story — a story of resilience, focus, commitment, dedication, and passion for a better world.

Margaret defied the odds from childhood. When her age mates dropped out of school, when culture and economic barriers discriminated against and neglected girl-child education, and when poverty threatened to consume her dream, she rose from grass to grace to tell her story.
For the guests and dignitaries who converged at Serena Hotel, they may have walked back home without knowing her full, true story. They may only know the story of her today and not her yesterday.

But for Margaret, her story of yesterday is the driver that gives her desire, pleasure, strength, and energy to give hope and help write the stories of bright and needy children in the community.
“I had an extremely difficult childhood. I came from a very humble background. Life was hard. I understand the language of abject poverty. But I did not lose hope. One of our neighbors told me, ‘Margaret, the only way to rewrite your story, family, and community is through education,’” she says.

Margaret, the firstborn in her family, was charged with the responsibility of rewriting her family’s story through education or getting married to start her own family. She chose education over marriage and other distractions.
“From childhood, I loved education. I spent my free time reading, and that is why I made it right from Lenana Primary School into secondary and university. A dream come true — but that was just the beginning,” she says.

In secondary school, Margaret relied heavily on community support to pursue her education, and they never allowed her dream to fade out.
“My secondary school fees were paid by the community. Friends, relatives, and neighbors contributed to see me in school. I never let them down — I excelled in my studies and joined Kenyatta University for a Bachelor of Education degree,” she says.

The university boom opened Margaret’s world. She could no longer depend on the community to cater for her education but spared part of her student money to educate her siblings.
Margaret had a mission — to support and give hope to bright and needy children just like herself. Together with her husband, they decided to support needy students in day secondary schools in their home county of Nandi.

“When my husband joined me in the mission to support the education of bright and needy students in our home in Nandi, it was the fulfillment of a journey I was committed to.
We have helped several needy children, and in 2013, I came up with a foundation after a friend advised me to do so.
This enabled me to mobilize funds and operationalize the service to reach a wider community in the country,” she says.

That is why, on Saturday, during the launch of the Chalan Foundation’s strategic plan, she stood tall to tell the success story of the initiative.
“Today is deeply personal for me. Thirteen years ago, this foundation was not born out of theory but from lived experience.
I know what it means to face cultural and economic barriers that threaten to close doors before they fully open.
I know what it means when someone believes in you, when a neighbor offers encouragement, when a teacher sees potential, and when a community chooses to stand with you even with limited resources.
That support changed everything for me. The small support I received became a seed, and that seed became a conviction.
If a community could light hope for me, we could light hope for thousands of children facing the same reality,” she said.

For 13 years, across 10 counties, 350 students have benefitted from scholarships from the Chalan Foundation.
“For 13 years, we have walked into homes and villages across 10 counties carrying one simple but powerful message: you are valued, and your life matters. We have witnessed beautiful transformations — girls returning to school and boys recovering their dignity,” she said.

Margaret said her success story was made possible by the support of various stakeholders.
“To our supporters, thank you for choosing impact over convenience. Thank you for investing in futures.
Thank you for trusting this vision and the team. You are co-authors of every success story we celebrate,” she said.

At the launch were two fresh graduates — one from the University of Nairobi with a bachelor’s in nursing and another from Kirinyaga University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering — both part of the 350 children the foundation has supported through school.

When Mr. Koskei, the patron, rose to speak, he said, “I have witnessed the journey from the very beginning.
I am the husband of the founder. Thirteen years ago, I watched my wife wrestle with a question that would not let her go:
If a community’s small support helped change her life, what would happen if we organized that kindness into an impact?
I have watched that question become a conviction. That conviction became a foundation, and that foundation has become a movement.

Let me tell you why I believe in this work. I have met the children myself. I have looked into the eyes of girls and boys in many counties who, because of the Chalan Foundation scholarships, are the first in their families to complete secondary school education,” he said.

Koskei said the initiative has given his family purpose and meaning by being part of the transformation in the community.
“I will provide unconditional support to the founder, board, and team.
My wife, I have watched you pour life into this mission. I have seen you sacrifice comfort for impact.
I have witnessed your courage in criticism and resilience through setbacks. I am proud of you beyond words.
Today, as we launch the foundation, know that you do not carry it alone. I am with you,” he said.

By James Okoth

It began in silence.

Winnie Odinga, trembling yet steady, walked forward with her father’s cap from India. The crowd held its breath. She knelt before Mama Ida Odinga, a daughter before her mother, a nation before its matriarch.

Slowly, she handed it over. A gift. A goodbye.

When the casket was finally closed, the cap lay on top, soft, simple, eternal. It was the last cloth to touch him. The last mark of the man who wore courage like a crown.

And now, that cap speaks louder than words.

At Kang’o ka Jaramogi, they wear it in thousands. Black, brown, blue, patterned, but always the same spirit. From statesmen to villagers, it has become a sign of belonging.

It is worn with dance, with song, with colour and pomp. It turns mourning into memory, grief into pride.

In Kisumu’s stage market, cap vendor Tom Ouma laughs as he counts the day’s sales.

“Before the burial, I could go two days without selling one,” he says, wiping sweat from his brow. “Now I restock every morning. People want the Baba cap. Even the price has doubled, but no one complains. They say they are wearing history,” he says with conviction.

The cap is gone, buried with him, yet it lives everywhere. On the heads of the people. In the rhythm of the crowd. In the quiet dignity of remembrance.

In life, Raila dressed for purpose. In death, he dresses a nation in meaning.

Every cap tilted at Kango whispers the same truth. Style fades, but spirit endures.

One question still lurks; what kind of a man was Raila Odinga?

The Government of Kenya welcomes the safe release of our two citizens, Mr. Bob Njagi and Mr. Nicholas Oyoo, who had been abducted by armed men around the Kireka area in Kampala, Uganda, on Wednesday, October 1st, 2025.

Following sustained diplomatic engagement between Kenya and Uganda, including a formal letter I personally addressed to Hon. Gen. Odongo Jeje Abubakhar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, both governments maintained open and constructive communication that has culminated in the safe release of our nationals.

Late last night, the two were released to our High Commissioner in Uganda, H.E. Joash Maangi. They were escorted by the Ambassador and officials of the Ugandan Government to the Busia border town, where they were received by the Busia County Commissioner, Mr. Chaunga Mwachaunga.

The Government of Kenya expresses its deep appreciation to the Government of Uganda for the cooperation extended throughout this process, and to our diplomatic team in Kampala for their vigilance, commitment, and professionalism. Arrangements have been finalized to ensure the two Kenyans reunite safely with their families.

The safety and well-being of Kenyan citizens abroad remain a non-negotiable priority for the Government of Kenya. We continue to urge all Kenyans living, working, or travelling abroad to remain vigilant and to maintain regular contact with our embassies and consulates for timely assistance and updates.

By Anderson Ojwang

Tomorrow, at 4:00 PM at Nyayo National Stadium, the new Gor Mahia patron, Eliud Owalo, has one important duty — arrest the Police and put to the sword their patron, Dr. Raymond Omollo.

The spirits of Baba, Raila Amolo Odinga, are not at peace until Owalo leads the team to avenge the shock loss of the league trophy to Police FC last season.

That is why, before Raila left for medical treatment in India, the last function he presided over at his Karen home was a breakfast meeting with Gor Mahia players and officials, where he presented them with a cheque of Sh10 million.

His final wish to the team was to win the league, return to the continent, and win trophies.

Gor Mahia posted on their X handle after the visit:
“An incredible visit to our patron, Hon. Raila Odinga, and Mama Ida Odinga’s home in Karen. The club management had a good time.
In demonstration of his unwavering commitment and truly generous gesture, our patron presented the club with a monumental gift of Sh10 million to support administrative functions.
We are deeply grateful to our patron and his family,” they wrote.

Raila then wrote on his X handle:
“As the new football season kicks off, I had the pleasure of being briefed by Gor Mahia @OfficialGMFC football club’s executive team, led by chairman Ambrose Rachier, on the club’s campaign plans for the season.
Wishing K’Ogalo all the very best as they fly the Green flag higher and strive to return as champions once again. Let’s go Gor Mahia.”

That is why Owalo has a specific mandate to avenge Dr. Omollo for leading Police FC to their first silverware last season and relegating Gor Mahia to the unfamiliar runners-up position, subsequently denying them a chance to participate in continental games.

Owalo has a duty to return the bragging rights to Gor Mahia by ensuring his charges win tomorrow’s game by a convincing margin.

On head-to-head records, Police have played Gor Mahia eight times, winning three and drawing three, while Gor Mahia have only won twice.

The riot police are ready to battle K’Ogalo and wrote on their X handle:
“The SERIKALI vs SIRKAL. The champions are ready for the showdown.”

Gor Mahia, in their jibe at Police, wrote on X:
“How the standings are ahead of the weekend matches. We are second on 13 points after six games.”

Police are currently placed 8th on the table with eight points, having played four matches. What a game this portends to be!

For Owalo, he has to deconstruct his UDA partner and colleague Dr. Omollo to appease Baba and Mahia’s spirits as he takes over the reins. Sunday marks the baptism by fire for Owalo.

By James Okoth

Two young men now lie lifeless at the Rachuonyo Subcounty Mortuary, victims of a senseless political clash that has left Kasipul reeling. What should have been a simple democratic exercise has instead reopened deep wounds in a nation still haunted by electoral bloodshed.

As police investigations continue, the Church has spoken in one unwavering voice, condemning the killings in the strongest terms possible and calling the country to order.

“Given the dark past in which lives have been lost during electioneering periods, I thought we had learnt as a community to shun violence and embrace peaceful elections,” said Cardinal Rev. Moses Tedy Oketch, of Nomiya Church Kenya.
“This is what is least expected of us and yet here we are again, mourning sons whose only crime was political passion.”

‘If Death Visits a By-Election, What of a General Poll?’

The cardinal’s words cut deep as he questioned the nation’s moral compass.

“If this is just a by-election where the winner will serve barely two years, and already two deaths are witnessed, what will happen when such a leader seeks a full term?” he posed. “We have lost our way if leadership must now be baptized in blood.”

Cardinal Oketch urged political parties, their supporters and the electoral commission to uphold peace and dignity, reminding Kenyans that the cost of violence far outweighs any political prize.

“Let us go back to our knees,” he said solemnly. “Pray to God, for whoever He wills to lead will lead us. As the Church, we plead with the people of Kasipul to restrain themselves, to conduct a peaceful poll and to remember that beyond this election, we must continue to live as brothers and sisters.”

The Church’s Collective Outcry

Cardinal Oketch’s call has resonated widely across denominations, sparking a collective outcry from other senior clergy.

Among them are Bishop Charles K’Okombo, National Treasurer of the Full Gospel Churches of Kenya and Bishop Syprian Mwalo Kodieny, who both condemned the killings and urged restraint among the youth.

“We are seeing a worrying rise in political arrogance and intolerance,” Bishop K’Okombo warned. “Peace is divine, yet many only recognise its value once it’s gone. Kasipul must lead by example, not by blood.”

Bishop Sypria Kodieny of Mt. Moriah International Ministries also cautioned young people against being used as political pawns, warning that high-adrenaline campaigns often end in grief and shame.

“No politician’s ambition is worth a single life,” she said. “If we do not change course, death will become a regular guest at our rallies and that would be an unforgivable stain on our democracy.”

The Contest to Succeed Ong’ondo Were

The late Charles Ong’ondo Were, remembered for his loyalty to ODM party and firm leadership, left a seat that has since drawn ten aspirants, each promising a redefine Kasipul’s political direction.

According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the following candidates have been cleared to contest in the Kasipul by-election set for November 27, 2025:

1. Boyd Were – Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)
2. Philip Nashon Aroko – Independent
3. Robert “Money Bior” Riaga Ajwang – Independent
4. Linda Aoko Ouma – Independent
5. Isaac Kiche Abok – Kenya Moral Movement (KMM)
6. Omondi Ko’yoo – National Liberal Party (NLP)
7. Sam Rateng Okoth – United Progressive Alliance (UPA)
8. Collins Okeyo – Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG)
9. Rateng’ Okoth Kotiende – Party not listed
10. Jesse Okello – Party not listed

The race is expected to test ODM’s traditional dominance in Homa Bay, especially after Boyd Were, son of the slain MP, clinched the party’s nomination against seasoned rivals. Several independent candidates, meanwhile, have vowed to “rescue Kasipul from inherited politics,” setting up a heated yet unpredictable contest.

A Nation Standing at the Crossroads

The Kasipul by-election was meant to be a test of maturity. A small local contest to fill a vacant seat, yet the bloodshed that erupted has once again exposed Kenya’s deep political fault lines.

Religious leaders now warn that if such trends persist, the nation risks losing its moral legitimacy at the ballot.

“We cannot keep burying our children in the name of democracy,” Cardinal Oketch said. “Let us restore decency to our politics, for no ballot paper is worth a coffin.”

He appealed to security agencies and the IEBC to ensure that order is maintained across all regions preparing for by-elections.

“Life is sacred,” he concluded. “God will punish those who shed innocent blood. Let the people of Kasipul choose their leader in peace and may that peace prevail across our land.”

The bloodshed in Kasipul is not just a local tragedy; it is a sobering reminder of Kenya’s recurring electoral nightmare. The voices from the pulpit are not merely calls for calm. They are calls for conscience.

Until leaders, followers and institutions alike begin to treat peace as sacred and life as inviolable, every campaign season will remain one heartbreak away from another funeral procession.

By James Okoth

Under the warm November sun, the red earth of Bondo trembled with a rare rhythm of the low thunder of hooves, bells clinking, dust swirling. From the distance, a herd of 100 cattle emerged, driven slowly towards Opoda Farm, the rural home of the late Raila Amolo Odinga.

At the head of the procession strode Kalonzo Musyoka, the Wiper Party leader, dressed in a forest-green robe and clutching a traditional spear and shield. Behind him, elders and supporters from Ukambani followed in song and chant. As they entered the Odinga homestead, a roar rose from the crowd.

“Jowi! Jowi!”

It was not just a political gesture. It was a cultural coup…a profound act of honour rooted in centuries-old tradition, reaffirming the enduring bonds between the Luo and Kamba nations.

A Herd for a Hero

The 100-head herd was Kalonzo’s way of mourning a comrade and friend, a man with whom he had shared both battlefields and ballots. In Luo culture, mourning with cattle is a ritual known as Tero Buru and is reserved for great men, warriors and elders of high esteem.

By bringing cattle to the homestead of the deceased, mourners symbolically drive away death and restore life’s balance to the family and the community. Bulls, in particular, signify strength, courage and leadership traits as embodied by the late Odinga.

“This is not politics,” one elder whispered as the animals were corralled at the edge of the homestead. “This is a man honouring another with the highest gift our culture knows.”

Ida’s Words: ‘We Have Food to Feed Everyone’

When the dust settled and the chanting faded, Mama Ida Odinga stood to speak. Her voice carried both warmth and relief.

“Kalonzo has done something that has not been done by anyone,” she told the crowd, smiling amid thunderous applause. “He brought 100 cows and food that can last mourners even beyond Christmas.”

For the Odinga household, the donation meant more than just sustenance. It was symbolic nourishment inter-twined in cultural, spiritual and emotional relevance.

Where Were the Cows From?

While Kalonzo’s team did not publicly disclose where the cattle were bought, several sources close to the Wiper delegation suggested the animals were sourced from Machakos and Makueni ranches, regions famous for hardy and healthy stock.

A convoy of trucks reportedly transported the herd to Siaya County, where Kalonzo and his team disembarked and walked the final stretch, roughly 5 kilometers, alongside the animals into Opoda Farm.

That walk, symbolic and deliberate, mirrored the ancient rite of accompaniment, in which the giver walks with the herd to ensure it “reaches the spirit of the departed”

The Language of Cattle

Among the Luo, Tero Buru is both spectacle and soul. It marks the final journey of the deceased from the world of the living to the realm of ancestors.

The sound of hooves and chants, the waving of spears, the and the dust are all meant to disperse the spirit of death, replacing sorrow with strength.

In the wider East African context, cattle remain the ultimate token of honour, used in marriage, reconciliation and, as witnessed in Bondo, mourning. In gifting cattle, one not only pays respect but also binds families, clans and even communities.

By leading the herd himself, Kalonzo merged tradition with diplomacy, a symbolic bridge between the Kamba and Luo, echoing the political brotherhood he shared with the late Odinga.

How Much Could Each Cow Cost?

Though no official figures were released, agricultural experts estimate that a healthy, well-bred bull or heifer of the kind presented in Bondo costs between KSh 80,000 and KSh 150,000.

If we assume a modest average of KSh 100,000 per cow, Kalonzo’s tribute could easily be valued at KSh 10 million, excluding transport and logistics.

As one observer put it, “That was not just a gift. It was a full statement of respect, unity and tradition.”

A Cultural and Political Message

In a time when Kenyan politics often divides communities, Kalonzo’s act cut across tribe and rhetoric. It was a reminder that leadership, too, can be expressed through cultural language and through gestures of humility and humanity.

The sight of 100 cattle filling the Odinga fields became more than a photo moment. It was a living metaphor for legacy, for friendship and for Kenya’s layered identity in modern, yet anchored in ancestral truth.

“Kalonzo didn’t just mourn Raila,” said a local elder. “He spoke the language of culture and every Luo understood.”

At Dusk, A Quiet Tribute

As evening fell over Opoda Farm, the lowing of cattle blended with the sound of drums and prayer. The herd settled and so did the air – peaceful, heavy with memory.

From Nairobi’s corridors of power to the smallest village hut, Kenyans saw something rare that day: a nation’s grief expressed in its oldest – the language of the cow.

A herd for a hero. A gift for a friend. A cultural coup for the ages.