In President William Ruto’s five-day tour of Luo Nyanza, one familiar face kept appearing close to the centre of power, and it was impossible to miss: Raila Kembo Odinga Junior.
Donning his late father Raila Odinga’s signature Kaunda suit and Panama hat, Junior was never far from the President’s side. He was there to receive Dr Ruto, launch projects and move with him from one rally stop to another across the region.
His presence quickly became a talking point in a tour laden with politics, symbolism and the delicate arithmetic of the post-Raila era.
On Sunday, Junior joined other leaders at the Voice of Salvation and Healing Church in Kisumu, where he received a warm welcome from an ecstatic congregation gathered to hear the President.
The following day, he was seated among leaders at a closed-door engagement between the Head of State and grassroots representatives drawn from Nyanza’s four counties.
As elected leaders and Cabinet Secretaries took turns addressing the crowd, Junior was given an unusual platform.
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed welcomed him onto the stage, where he was joined by his aunt, Tabu Osewe Odinga, the West Sakwa MCA. Together, they danced as the emotional strains of Raila Come Home reverberated through the crowd.
Before delivering his speech, Junior raised the familiar battle cry — “Jowi” — a chant his father famously used to stir political crowds.
President William Ruto addresses members of the public at Sindio centre, Homa Bay County.
Photo credit: PCS
For a moment, the son appeared to summon the political memory of the father. And in the politically charged meeting, Junior chose to strike more of a reconciliatory tone, quelling the temperatures and reminding the region of his father’s rallying call.
“You had a shared vision with Baba Raila of development not just in Nyanza but the whole of Kenya, therefore, I am behind you fully. What I want to tell our people is what Baba asked of us before he died, which was, we should remain united as a community. For us to do that we should all be in ODM,” said Raila Junior amid applause from the crowd.
And on Monday, he accompanied the President to launch projects in Kisumu Town and inspect others and was given an opportunity to address the crowd at the Jua Kali area, where he emphasised his earlier message of unity of the Luo community and his support for Dr Ruto’s re-election.
On Tuesday, he would accompany the President to his home county of Siaya, where the two matched the Orange Democratic Movement Party caps.
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In Siaya, he stressed the need for the government to continue with its development projects in the region.
“My father Dr Oburu Oginga asked me to welcome you here in Siaya, the home of Baba Raila Odinga. I am the grandchild of Jaramogi (Oginga Odinga) and we support the development programmes you are bringing here in Siaya, continue to support us,” said Junior.
And on Wednesday, he was in Migori County, where his line of messaging slightly changed to thank the President for supporting their family and became more combative towards those not supporting the President.
“I am happy with what you are doing in our region, let nobody threaten you. Even in the absence of Baba, be rest assured that I have approved what you are doing for us. You helped me build my father’s mausoleum and I continue thanking you,” said Junior.
He was not in Homa Bay because he was attending the official launch of the National Steering Committee to oversee his father’s anniversary in Nairobi on Thursday.
With his uncle Dr Oburu Oginga and aunt Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga absent because they are in the United Kingdom, and his mother Ida and sister Winnie Odinga missing from the tour, Raila Junior carried the family’s name during the five days.
Raila Odinga Junior is shaved in accordance with Luo traditions, marking his assumption of family leadership, four days after his father’s burial at Opoda Farm, Bondo, on October 23, 2025.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
Known as a smooth talker and more of a boardroom person, Raila Junior has gone against what he promised when he was crowned as the head of the Odinga family, which was to concentrate on family matters. He has decided to go ahead and inherit his father’s throne.
And to observers, the presence of Junior throughout the tour was not a mere coincidence, but a well-calculated move to raise his political stake in not only the region but also prepare him for a bigger role at the national level.
He has already declared his interest in the Kibra parliamentary seat, a move that has been endorsed by his mother, Ida, who directed the party leaders from Nairobi to protect and cover him in the journey.
He is already getting massive support from the ODM constituency in Kibra, who feel his ‘tears should be wiped’ by offering him the seat, placing him on the path his father walked.
Having made his stand known in supporting President Ruto, the Kenya Kwanza leader appears to be propping him up for greater roles, as opposed to Winnie, who to many is among the ‘fence-sitters’ leaning towards the Linda Mwananchi movement.
Mr Joshua Nyamori, a political commentator, shares the same thoughts, saying that even in death, Raila remains enigmatic and his legacy and image draw passionate attention from the masses.
“Raila Junior’s presence is important owing to the blowing hot and cold of Winnie. His image evokes memories of his father and mobilises those who were loyal to him, assuring them that where his son is, his legacy is protected,” said Mr Nyamori.
He also pointed out that his presence gave the President and the supporters of a broad-based government an assurance that the Odinga family supports the President.
“At some point the people were worried that the Odinga family was not aligning to the broad-based government, but with Raila Junior there, it is now an assurance that they support Ruto.”
From left: Raila Junior, Winnie Odinga and Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho during the ODM@20 anniversary celebrations at Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa on November 15, 2025.
Photo credit: Wachira Mwangi | Nation Media Group
Mr Nyamori added that Raila Junior’s alignment with the President gives him an opportunity to grow politically around the President.
But Prof Obora Okoth, a political analyst, felt the President was just using him to woo a region that he is seeking to persuade to back his re-election bid.
“Ruto is desperate for Nyanza votes and is doing everything to endear himself to the electorate there, including this. I am, however, not sure if it will work because the dynasty politics died with Raila the father. It will take more than this,” said Prof Okoth.
The timing of his presence on the Nyanza tour appears to be strategic, coming only a few days before his father’s anniversary.
Some even claim the one-week event may be a good opportunity for Raila Junior’s coronation as one of the community’s future leaders.
