The winds over Kang’o ka Jaramogi carry with them a new rhythm — a blend of grief, nostalgia, and reverence.
Just days after Raila Odinga’s state burial, the serene village of Bondo in Siaya County has transformed into a pilgrimage site.
Delegations, both political, religious and even sports groups, have been streaming in daily to pay homage to a man who, even in death, continues to wield unmatched influence over Kenya’s social and political fabric.
On Tuesday, National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, a close confidant of the former ODM leader, together with Prof Makau Mutua, Mr Odinga’s 2022 presidential campaign spokesperson, led other leaders to Kang’o ka Jaramogi.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta visits the grave of the late Raila Odinga at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo on on October 20, 2025, a day after the opposition leader was buried.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
“I returned to Bondo to commiserate with Mama Ida Odinga as we continue to mourn and come to terms with the great loss of Baba, Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. Mama Ida is keeping strong, and we wish her fortitude and good health. Baba is eternally in our hearts,” Mr Junet said.
It is as if Odinga’s spirit refuses to fade. From dawn to dusk, convoys snake through the Bondo–Nyamira road, into the homestead at Kang’o ka Jaramogi, where Odinga was interred, next to his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga mausoleum.
At the heart of the compound, under a canopy of trees and soft Lake Victoria breeze, lies the grave of the man millions called Baba: The People’s President — still fresh with flowers, flags, and candles lit by faithful visitors.
In the days since the state burial, the number of visitors has been astonishing. The Odinga family spokesperson, Dr Oburu Oginga, confirmed that delegations have been arriving from every corner of the country.
“We are receiving people daily — from governors and senators to boda boda riders and church groups. They come to mourn, to reflect, to say thank you to Raila for what he meant to them,” said Dr Oginga.
Local fans of English Premier League team Arsenal at the gravesite of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Kang'o ka Jaramogi in Bondo on October 26, 2025.
Photo credit: Pool
Former president Uhuru Kenyatta, Agikuyu elders, religious groups, politicians and Arsenal fans are some of the people and groups that have trooped to Odinga’s grave.
Delegations from Kisii, Homa Bay, Busia, Kakamega, Nairobi, and even parts of Mount Kenya have trooped to Bondo.
Some come in organised groups, others arrive unannounced, often leaving symbolic items — flowers and flags on the marble grave.
The pattern of visitors reflects the layered legacy Odinga left behind. Political leaders arrive to honour his statesmanship; ordinary Kenyans come to pay respects to the man who embodied their struggles.
At the family’s Opoda Farm — just two kilometres away from the burial site — the stream of guests is no less busy.
Political and diplomatic delegations continue to hold private sessions with the family, led by Odinga’s widow Ida.
Inside the main house, condolence books remain open, already filled with hundreds of heartfelt messages written in diverse languages.
The area surrounding Kang’o ka Jaramogi — which also houses the mausoleum of Kenya’s first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga — is now thronged by pilgrims seeking a connection with two of Kenya’s most consequential political souls: father and son.
Local businesses have sprung up overnight. Women sell tea, porridge, and mandazi to visitors. Boda boda operators ferry pilgrims to and from the site.
Vendors hawk miniature portraits of Raila, orange wristbands, and flags emblazoned with ODM symbols.
“Every day is like a small rally,” said George Odhiambo, a local trader from Bondo town. “People come from far — not just Luo Nyanza.
Buola Dancers from Gulu, Uganda, perform farewell heroic songs at the grave of the late Raila Odinga at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Nyamira, Bondo, on October 20, 2025.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
We’ve hosted groups from Nakuru, Machakos, and even Nyeri. They say Baba was their leader too.”
The atmosphere is emotional but celebratory — a living testament to the reach of Odinga’s ideals. Groups break into song, others recite prayers.
For politicians, the journey to Kang’o ka Jaramogi is more than a courtesy visit — it’s a symbolic rite of passage in post-Raila politics.
ODM leaders have been making calculated appearances to align themselves with the Odinga family and demonstrate loyalty to Odinga’s enduring political spirit.
ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga led a delegation from Homa Bay, describing Odinga as “the father of democracy in Kenya and the prince of peace and unity,” a compass that still points north even in death.”
ODM co-deputy party leader Simba Arati and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i have also led huge delegations from Gusii land to the home.
Away from the political symbolism, the crowds tell a deeper story of emotional connection.
Many visitors speak of how Odinga’s courage and defiance inspired them. Some cry quietly near the grave, others kneel, whispering prayers or messages to the departed leader.
Faith-based groups have also turned the site into a spiritual symbol. On several mornings, choirs from local churches hold brief prayer sessions near the grave, singing hymns about hope, justice, and peace.
For the younger generation, Odinga’s story has become a living lesson and for sports fans, particularly Arsenal, which Odinga supported, his death has left an indelible mark.
