2 Items Raila Was Buried With During Private Ceremony In Bondo
On the question of succession, attention has turned to Raila’s lastborn son, Raila Odinga Junior, who many view as his political heir.
Marvin Chege 
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was laid to rest on Sunday evening, October 19 at his ancestral home in Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, Bondo, Siaya County, in a solemn and symbolic send-off attended by national leaders, family members, and a limited number of mourners allowed into the private ceremony.
Raila, who passed away on Wednesday, October 15, in India, was buried wearing his signature hat—known as Ogudu in Luo culture—and holding a ceremonial whisk, or Orengo.
The gesture carried deep cultural significance, symbolizing his enduring authority and stature within the Luo community.
President William Ruto lays a wreath of flowers during the burial of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Sunday, October 19, 2025. /PCS
When the ceremony reached the point of lowering his casket, proceedings turned strictly private. Only select dignitaries—including President William Ruto, Cabinet Secretaries, senior ODM officials, family, and close allies—were present to place flowers at the gravesite.
Among those allowed to pay their final respects up close was Raila’s longtime bodyguard, Maurice Ogeta, who was recently offered a government job by President Ruto in recognition of his loyalty.
In Luo tradition, a fly whisk is reserved for elders and leaders—it represents wisdom, power, and continuity. Being buried with one signifies that the leader’s dignity and influence transcend death, allowing them to retain their honor in the afterlife.
Raila’s trademark fedora hat, meanwhile, has become inseparable from his public persona—symbolizing his identity, resilience, and lifelong dedication to public service.
Together, the whisk and hat reflected not only who Raila was as a person, but also the values and legacy he embodied.
Since Luo customs hold that life continues beyond death, burying a person with objects of personal or symbolic value ensures they carry their prestige and comforts into the afterlife.
In another poignant moment, the military handed the Kenyan flag to Mama Ida Odinga, a mark of national recognition for Raila’s decades of service and sacrifice.
On the question of succession, attention has turned to Raila’s lastborn son, Raila Odinga Junior, who many view as his political heir.
Junior fueled that perception when he was seen on Friday carrying his father’s fly whisk during the public viewing at Parliament Buildings—an image loaded with both cultural and political significance.
