Opoda Farm: Inside Raila's quiet home that shaped many political stories

Just a few kilometers from Bondo town stands Opoda Farm, a tranquil yet powerful space that has long been the epicenter of Raila Odinga’s political life. To many, it is simply his rural home.

But to those who have crossed its gates, Opoda is more than that. It is both a home and a farm—a living symbol of influence, humility, and history. It is a place where Kenya’s political destiny has often been quietly shaped.

Over the years, Opoda has hosted political titans, foreign dignitaries, and village elders alike. Whenever Raila retreated to the homestead, convoys of vehicles with tinted windows would snake down the road, carrying emissaries from across the country. Within its quiet compound, away from the cameras, alliances were forged, truces negotiated, and strategies drawn.

Opoda was never just a home. It was a command centre. Every big political move traces its roots here,” said an insider who requested anonymity.

But beyond the politics, Opoda has always been a working farm. Its sprawling fields, cattle, and orchards reflect Raila’s deep attachment to rural life and his belief in self-reliance. It was here that locals first saw camels—animals rarely seen in the lakeside region.

Many people came just to see the camels. We had only seen them on TV or heard stories from upcountry, but at Opoda, they were right there,” said Moses Oluoch, a resident.
To the villagers, the presence of camels became a local attraction, a story whispered with both amusement and pride. It was as if Opoda had brought a piece of Kenya’s northern frontier to the heart of Siaya.

At Opoda, protocol was clear and disciplined. Those arriving for closed-door meetings were required to switch off their phones and leave them at the gate, a gesture that symbolised confidentiality and trust.

Here, Luo elders met with Kalenjin and Mt. Kenya leaders in an atmosphere of openness and respect. Conversations often carried the weight of unity and reconciliation.

“When Jakom called a meeting at Opoda, you came prepared to listen and to speak truthfully. He often called us elders to understand what was happening on the ground,” recalls Maurice Oloo, Chairman of the Luo Council of Elders in Bondo.

In the run-up to the 2022 elections, a delegation of elders from Mt Kenya visited Opoda in what became one of the most symbolic gestures of unity in recent times. Under the watchful eyes of both Luo and Kikuyu elders, a goat was slaughtered—a ritual that, in traditional culture, signifies peace, friendship, and shared destiny. 

“It was a cleansing of the past and a handshake of the heart. When a goat is slaughtered, it seals understanding. That day, we became one people,” added Oloo.

The event went largely unreported in the mainstream press, but for those present, it marked a moment when Raila’s home once again became a bridge between two of Kenya’s most influential communities.

Over the years, Opoda has emerged as a hub of dialogue between regions and ethnic communities. It has hosted reconciliation meetings after moments of national tension, becoming a space where trust was rebuilt.

During post-election crises, delegations from across Kenya came to Bondo seeking counsel and healing.

Opoda’s story cannot be told without tracing it back to the Odinga lineage. The land was once bushy, and it is said that one of Raila’s grandfathers once lived there.

For many locals, the farm—which is just a few meters from his elder brother Dr. Oburu Oginga’s home, symbolises continuity. “When you said you were from near Opoda, people listened differently,” recalls Peter Omollo, a resident.

In recent years, Opoda has become a kind of pilgrimage site for admirers from across the country. Young people, tourists, and political supporters often stop by the gate just to take photographs or speak with the guards who have quietly watched history unfold. 

“It’s like going to a shrine of democracy. You can almost feel the spirit of resilience in the air,” says Enos Ruon’go, a local.