Balala condoles with Ida, gifts her a camel
What you need to know:
- Like many visitors before him who have been condoling with Mama Ida Odinga, Mr Balala did not come empty-handed.
Former Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala on Friday made a solemn but symbolic visit to Opoda Farm and Kang'o ka Jaramogi in Bondo to pay his last respects to ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Like many visitors who have been condoling with Mama Ida Odinga, Mr Balala did not come empty-handed.
But unlike the customary offerings of cows, goats, sheep or chickens that are typical in Luo tradition, he arrived with a striking and unexpected gift — a camel.
The towering desert animal, which is synonymous with arid areas far from the lakeside region, drew lots of curiosity from onlookers.
Camels are a rare sight in Bondo and the wider Siaya County; they are only seen in recreational spaces where operators offer rides to children and fascinated adults.
According to Mr Balala, the camel is not only a gift but also a profound gesture of honour — a tribute to a man he described as a political mentor and cherished friend.
“Where I come from, to give someone a camel is to honour him or her. Raila dedicated his life to giving a voice to the vulnerable and the marginalised like us,” said Mr Balala.
“A camel is sacred to us. They are good guiders; they guided Prophet Mohamed.”
He was accompanied by Kisumu-based businessman-cum-politician Abdul Dubai Omar, who revealed that they bought the animal in Baringo and transported via a pickup to Bondo.
However, it was also revealed that Mr Odinga kept various domestic animals, including camels, at his Opoda Farm. In September last year, he was seen taking Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja around his farm, where he showed him his three camels.
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