Why Raila Odinga's legacy endures beyond the grave

It is a grave that holds a great wealth of institutional memory—a final resting place for a man whose life was as impactful as his death on the country’s history. A great man to behold.

Unlike many of Kenya’s past political icons, whose final resting places have faded into quiet obscurity, the late former Prime Minister’s grave continues to draw pilgrims day after day.

At Kang’o in Bondo, the air still feels heavy with emotion. Weeks after Raila Odinga was laid to rest beside his father, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, the homestead remains a place where memory, faith, and history meet.

Every day, groups of mourners, supporters, and curious visitors stream into the compound. Some kneel quietly by the graveside, others take photographs, while a few break into song and prayer. The number of visitors is so large that the family has set aside an area for receiving guests, ensuring that those who come to pay tribute are welcomed in an orderly manner.

For most leaders, the crowds leave after the burial and never return. Few Kenyans even know where some of the country’s founding figures were buried.

Enduring love

But at Kang’o, the story is different. People come back again and again—to stand by the graveside, to sing, to pray, and to remember.

“It’s not just a grave; it’s like a national altar. We come here to draw strength from what Baba stood for,” said Christopher Odhiambo, a resident of Ugenya.

Even those who had visited earlier still find it necessary to return, drawn by an unexplainable pull to reconnect, reflect, and be part of a story that continues to unfold long after Raila’s burial. For many, each visit feels like a renewal of faith in the ideals he fought for.

Save for only a few members of the opposition, nearly all leaders in the country have paid a visit to Kang’o to whisper a prayer for the late veteran politician.

But it is not limited to leaders alone; several people across the country, as well as elders from various communities, have pitched tents at Raila’s final resting place to pay homage to a man whose contribution to expanding the country’s democratic space is firmly imprinted in Kenya’s history books.

Yesterday, a delegation from Teso became the latest group of pilgrims to visit Opoda on a day when Chief Justice Martha Koome also paid homage to the late influential politician.

Dressed in traditional regalia, the group chanted prayers and recounted Raila’s contribution to the country’s success.

The grave itself reflects the love Kenyans continue to hold for him. Every inch of soil is now covered with blossoms—white lilies, red roses, yellow chrysanthemums, and pink carnations. Yet, as beautiful as they are, the flowers quickly wither under the Siaya sun.

Living memory

To maintain the site, groundsmen have been assigned to collect the dried flowers daily and make room for new ones. They have now become part of the rhythm of mourning, carefully clearing faded petals while ensuring that Baba’s final resting place remains pristine and dignified.

Anne Atieno from Homa Bay said bringing flowers to Baba’s grave gives her a sense of peace and fulfilment.

“It’s not just about decoration; it’s about showing our love and appreciation for a man who gave his all to fight for the rights of ordinary Kenyans,” she explained.

“Every time I lay a flower, I feel as though I’m having a silent conversation with him—telling him we are proud of what he stood for, and that his dream for a better Kenya is still alive in us,” she continued.

For Andrew Ondara, who travelled all the way from Nyamira, the flowers symbolise remembrance and continuity.

National tribute

“Baba’s spirit lives on, and when we place the flowers there, we’re saying his legacy will never die. Many of us grew up looking up to him as a symbol of hope and courage. The flowers represent that hope. They may fade after a few days, but our respect for Baba will never fade,” he said.

Esther Achieng from Yimbo noted that the act of bringing flowers carries deep cultural significance.

“In our Luo culture, we believe in honouring our elders even after they’ve left us. When I come here with my children to place flowers, it’s a lesson I’m passing on—that we must always remember those who fought for us. Every petal I lay down is a prayer, a message of gratitude, and a way of keeping his memory alive in our hearts and in the hearts of future generations,” she said.

Despite the passage of days, Opoda Farm has not known silence. On Monday, October 27, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i led a large delegation from Kisii and Nyamira counties to visit Mama Ida Odinga and convey their condolences.

The group, composed of political, religious, and community leaders, was warmly received by Mama Ida before proceeding to Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, where they also laid flowers on Raila’s grave.

The moment was marked by calm reverence—heads bowed, eyes misty and hearts heavy.

Pan-African significance

This delegation joined a long list of mourners and leaders who have made their way to Bondo since the funeral.

On Wednesday, a huge delegation led by former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives Wycliffe Oparanya, the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli, and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, among other leaders, visited the grave, underscoring the Pan-African and national significance of the late ODM leader’s life and legacy.

A day after Raila’s burial, retired President Uhuru Kenyatta visited the grave site, despite having attended the funeral. He was followed by several guests, including diplomats, politicians, professionals, and business people.

At Kang’o, the late Jaramogi’s two surviving widows, Mama Betty and Pauline, welcome guests warmly, offering blessings and short moments of reflection. Their presence adds a personal touch to the homestead’s growing reputation as a space of both memory and continuity.

Personal reflections

According to the family, they welcome everyone who feels the need to pay their tribute—whether they come in silence, in song, or in prayer. To them, Kang’o belongs to all Kenyans who were touched by Raila’s life and ideals.

According to Betty, even her late husband was not mourned the way Mr Odinga has been. She says the number of people visiting Kang’o and the emotions expressed by mourners are unlike anything she has ever seen before.

“This is something else. People are coming from all corners of the country and even beyond just to stand by his grave. It shows the kind of love and respect Kenyans had for him,” she said.

She added that it was the late Jaramogi who opened his gates to everyone, irrespective of age, ethnic group, or political affiliation.

“Even when Mzee was alive, we would get visitors, and he taught us to welcome everyone,” she added.

So treasured is the site that getting a chance to take a photograph is not easy before another delegation arrives. The constant flow of people—from top political figures to ordinary Kenyans—reflects the depth of the late Odinga’s connection with the nation.

Additional reporting by Rodgers Otiso