Raila Junior Installed as Odinga Family Head in Traditional Luo Ceremony

A solemn yet symbolic ceremony marking the continuation of one of Kenya’s most influential lineages was held at Opoda Farm in Bondo, where Raila Odinga’s son, Raila Odinga Junior, was formally installed as the new head of the Odinga family in accordance with Luo cultural traditions.

The event, held four days after the burial of the former Prime Minister, signified both the end of the mourning period and the transfer of family leadership, in line with ancestral customs that have guided the Odinga lineage for generations.

Speaking as the cultural head of the extended family, Siaya Senator Dr Oburu Oginga clarified that the ceremony was purely cultural, not political, and was intended to preserve the sacred values that define the family’s heritage.

Raila Odinga Jnr installed as the head of the Raila Odinga family, taking over the mantle of leadership following his father’s passing.

“The seat of power in this home now rests with the new leader, Raila Junior, together with his mother,” Dr Oburu said.

“The mother will always be there to offer guidance and wisdom, but the young man must stand firm and lead this home. That is our culture.”

He explained that according to Luo tradition, the fourth day after burial known as chieng’ ang’wen—marks the closure of mourning.

It is the day when sons and close male relatives are released from the mourning period, while daughters married elsewhere return to their respective homes.

“My brother was buried on Sunday last week. Counting from that day, last night marked the fourth night. This is when the funeral officially ends,” he noted.

During the ceremony, Raila Junior was made to sit on a traditional chair as elders and family members gathered for prayers and blessings.

One of his grandmothers then performed the symbolic head-shaving ritual, an act signifying purification, renewal, and the assumption of responsibility.

Raila Odinga Junior seated on a traditional stool during the installation ceremony at Opoda Farm, Bondo.

“Junior will go through the ritual and receive the instruments of power—the symbols that affirm his role as the new head of the home,” Dr Oburu said.

He further urged the community to appreciate the ceremony for its cultural depth rather than misinterpret it as superstition.

“This is not witchcraft; it is a blessing. Religion does not stand against culture, the two must go hand in hand,” he affirmed.

Dr Oburu also noted that, as the senior-most member of the clan, he remains the overall cultural leader of the Odinga family, a position he held even during the lifetime of his late brother, much like their father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga before them.

The event mirrored similar rites conducted after Jaramogi’s passing in 1994, reflecting the Odinga family’s deep commitment to cultural continuity even amid their prominent role in Kenya’s modern political history.

The installation of Raila Junior marks a new chapter for the Odinga household, symbolizing renewal, unity, and the endurance of tradition within one of Kenya’s most respected families.

A grandmother performs the symbolic shaving ritual on Raila Junior, marking renewal and the assumption of responsibility.