Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has said former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s influence in Kenya’s political landscape will endure for generations, even beyond his death.
Speaking at Raila’s Opoda Farm in Bondo, Siaya County, where he paid homage to the late opposition leader, Kalonzo described Raila as a “great warrior” whose legacy in the fight for democracy and justice remains unmatched.
Kalonzo, accompanied by his allies including Siaya Governor James Orengo, led a symbolic tribute steeped in Luo tradition, delivering a herd of bulls to Raila’s homestead.
Dressed in traditional regalia and carrying a shield and spear, the former vice president said the gesture was meant to honor Raila as a respected, courageous, and influential figure in Kenya’s history.“Raila’s spirit of resistance and leadership in the struggle for democracy lives on. Even in death, his voice will continue to guide Kenya’s political direction,” said Kalonzo.The leaders laid wreaths at Raila’s grave at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, where emotional tributes flowed from those who served alongside him.
Ida Odinga, the widow of the late leader, lauded Kalonzo’s enduring friendship and loyalty, saying their bond was one “forged in shared struggles for Kenya’s freedom.”Governor Orengo hailed Kalonzo’s steadfastness, noting that he had supported Raila’s presidential ambitions in three consecutive elections, a rare show of political faith in Kenya’s shifting alliances.
Kalonzo also disclosed that Democratic Conservative Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua is expected to visit Raila’s Bondo home in the coming days as thousands of mourners continue to flock Opoda Farm to pay their respects to the man many regard as the father of Kenya’s modern democracy.
Raila Odinga was laid to rest on October 19 at his rural home in Bondo, marking the end of an era but, as Kalonzo emphasized, not the end of his influence.
