Why Raila Odinga Jr Had His Head Shaved During Installation Ceremony

Raila Odinga’s only surviving son, Raila Odinga Junior, was on Thursday, October 23, formally installed as the new head of the Odinga family in a private but culturally significant ceremony—just three days after the burial of the former Prime Minister.

The rite, held at the late Odinga’s Opoda Farm in Bondo, marked a symbolic handover of family leadership to the next male heir.

Preparations began early that morning, culminating in a traditional shaving ritual known in Luo culture as liedo—a ceremony that signifies the end of mourning and the beginning of a new era of leadership within the homestead.

Raila Odinga Junior gets his head shaved as he is installed as the head of the Raila Odinga family on October 23, 2025. /VIRAL TEA KE

The event was steeped in tradition, with Luo dancers filling the compound with rhythmic chants and movements, celebrating both heritage and continuity.

According to Luo customs, the liedo ceremony typically takes place about four days after a patriarch’s burial to ensure the smooth transition of authority.

The ritual involves shaving the heir’s head, symbolizing renewal and the transfer of responsibility from the deceased to the living. The act is usually performed by the deceased’s eldest sister, who makes three symbolic cuts before the full shave, witnessed by close family members.

In this case, Raila Junior took centre stage as his late brother, Fidel Odinga—who would have traditionally assumed the role—passed away in 2015.

Once shaved, Junior was handed a spear and shield before performing a brief traditional dance, officially marking his ascension as the new family head.

Traditionally, the liedo would take place near a river or water source to symbolize purification and the washing away of death’s shadow. Today, many families, including the Odingas, conduct the ceremony at home while preserving its spiritual essence.

Raila Junior’s wife and children were also expected to take part in the ritual. However, family elder Oburu Odinga hinted that his sister-in-law might have been hesitant about that part of the custom.

Even after the installation, the Odinga family—like many Luo households—will continue honouring their patriarch through grave upkeep and remembrance ceremonies. These are typically held on anniversaries or major gatherings, featuring songs, offerings, and communal feasts to celebrate the departed’s legacy.

For the Luo community, death is not the end of existence but a transition into the ancestral realm. Such rituals are seen as vital acts of connection—welcoming the departed among the ancestors who are believed to watch over and guide the living.