The Odinga family faces a delicate protocol dilemma ahead of Thursday’s first anniversary of Raila Odinga’s death, with President William Ruto expected to attend and reports indicating that retired President Uhuru Kenyatta as also been invited as one of the key guests.
The presence of the two leaders who have traded bitter public attacks in recent months places the family at the centre of a potentially awkward political showdown.
The Daily Nation has established that a section of the organisers wanted Mr Kenyatta to preside over the commemoration at Migwena Grounds in Bondo amid resistance from other members.
The invitation was reportedly extended in anticipation that Dr Ruto would not attend Thursday’s event, having unveiled Mr Odinga’s mausoleum last Wednesday.
President William Ruto and Mama Ida Odinga during the handover and dedication of the Raila Amolo Odinga Mausoleum in Bondo, Siaya County, on October 7, 2026.
Photo credit: PCS
But the President has since indicated that he will attend the anniversary, raising questions about the role Mr Kenyatta would play if both leaders are present.
Dr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta have been engaged in a public war of words, with the President accusing his predecessor of being a “rebel” seeking to undermine his administration by funding the opposition. Earlier this month, Mr Kenyatta urged the Mt Kenya region not to repeat “the mistake of electing Ruto”.
“They are calling me all manner of names. He is calling me sponsor, rebel leader and drunkard, but I don’t care. He is wasting time fighting me. I am not his competitor,” Mr Kenyatta said during the burial of Mwalimu Jackson Karua, father of People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, in Kirinyaga.
On Sunday, Mr Kenyatta’s Communications Secretary Kanze Dena-Mararo told the Nation his attendance was “to be confirmed”, without providing further details.
A member of the larger Jaramogi family, however, told the Nation that Mr Kenyatta had initially been invited as chief guest for the anniversary.
“We had been told that Uhuru Kenyatta will be the chief guest during the anniversary yet we know no one can speak after the President during an event. We don’t know whether he (President Ruto) will also be present,” the family member, who spole in confidence, said.
The invitation reportedly became a subject of discussion last week following Dr Ruto's unveiling of Mr Odinga’s mausoleum at Kang’o ka Jaramogi after reports of Mr Kenyatta’s invitation emerged. Other top opposition politicians are also expected to attend.
An ODM MP familiar with the discussions said Mr Kenyatta could not serve as chief guest at an event attended by the Head of State. The MP requested anonymity, saying he did not want to be accused of meddling in a family matter.
The protocol question comes against the backdrop of divisions within the Odinga family over the country’s political direction, with members increasingly aligning themselves with competing political camps.
Raila Junior, who has declared interest in the Kibra parliamentary seat, has aligned himself with the broad-based government.
During Wednesday’s mausoleum unveiling, he endorsed Dr Ruto for a second term putting him in the same camp as his uncle, ODM party leader Oburu Oginga.
His sister, East African Legislative Assembly MP Winnie Odinga and Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga have, however, remained critical of the arrangement and the direction of the party since the veteran politician's death.
The two have, on several occasions, accused senior ODM officials of running down the party. Winnie has previously been linked to the Linda Mwananchi movement led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna but she is yet to declare her position.
Winnie Odinga during a ceremony in Bondo, Siaya County, on October 3, 2026.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
Their differing political positions have heightened the sensitivity surrounding the anniversary, even as the family insists that the event should bring together people across the political divide.
Raila’s widow Ida Odinga, who was appointed by President Ruto as Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has maintained that her husband had no permanent enemies. She has repeatedly advised politicians’ spouses not to inherit their partners’ political rivalries.
“Former opponents, knowing Kenya politics, probably know Raila well because in the end they all come together and you are all welcome; that is Raila for you,” Mrs Odinga said on Wednesday.
Another family member acknowledged that the invitation had caused a standoff over how the event should be organised.
“The committee should come up with the final way forward because, as it stands, there are those pushing for the event to be left to the opposition, but at the same time, since it will be the main ceremony, President Ruto is expected to attend. Last week’s event was just for the unveiling of the mausoleum,” the family member who also sought anonymity, said.
“It shouldn't be a political rally but an event where all those who loved Baba are welcome, so nobody should fear sharing a podium with another because of political animosity,” the source added.
The family member said political leaders could identify with their preferred camps after the commemoration but political affiliations should not determine who gets which role at the event.
Luo Council of Elders Deputy Ker James Ayaga urged Dr Oburu Oginga to take the lead in restoring unity within the family, saying Raila had been the glue that held them together.
“All that is happening in Odinga’s family is upon Oburu, as the eldest son of Jaramogi, to unite the home.Let him sit down with all the remaining family members, including Ida, to ensure they speak in one voice,” Mr Ayaga said.
Dr Oginga, who is also the Siaya Senator, is currently on a medical break with his office indicating he was resting on doctors' advise.
“The main thing that remains for that family is unity. They have to portray the image that Jaramogi and Raila left because there was a lot of peace in the Odinga family," he said.
During last week’s ceremony, Winnie said people of all political affiliations were welcome to honour her father’s legacy. She urged leaders to set aside their differences and avoid turning the anniversary into a contest for political dominance.
“On October 15, we have invited people of different political inclinations, from different tribes and communities, from neighbouring countries and beyond to join us in celebrating the memory of Baba. We may hold different political convictions, may disagree strongly about the direction of our country, but you are welcome here. Nobody is being asked to surrender their beliefs at the gate,” she said.
She called for a political ceasefire in honour of her father warning against attempts to use the event to demonstrate political strength or embarrass rivals.
President William Ruto is shown around Raila Amolo Odinga Mausoleum by Ida Odinga during the handover and dedication in Bondo, Siaya County on October 7, 2026.
Photo credit: PCS
“As a family, we call for a political ceasefire in his honour. Please let 15th be a day of remembrance and celebration. It should not become a political showground, a competition of who owns the crowd, who receives the loudest cheers or who can embarrass another guest,” she added.
ODM, meanwhile, says the anniversary programme is being coordinated by a committee chaired by Prof Adams Oloo, with the party handling its own activities to celebrate the late leader.
National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohammed said the party was not in charge of the main commemoration.
“The committee is doing everything. We are only in charge of our party activities to celebrate the life of our departed leader,” Mr Mohammed said.
The Daily Nation reached out to Prof Oloo for details on preparations and the list of invited guests but had not received a response by the time of going to press.
“I will refer you to our communications person who will give you elaborate plans as I am in a meeting,” he said on phone on Sunday.
Prof Oloo was appointed to lead the memorial steering committee amid a perceived rift between the family and ODM. In a recent interview with the Daily Nation, Winnie said the decision to have him coordinate the programme was intended to prevent any one group from controlling access to the anniversary.
“I don’t think there’s any conflict. There cannot be a fight over the anniversary,” she said.
She said the aim was to ensure an inclusive event that would bring together both political allies and opponents of her father.
Reporting by Moses Nyamori, Cecil Odongo And Collins Omullo
