Raila's wish is in line with Luo cultural ways of burying elders
Politics
By
Clinton Ambujo and Isaiah Gwengi
| Oct 18, 2025
In the Luo cultural tradition, burial rites are conducted in cognizance of the community’s strong belief in life after death.
According to a cultural book titled Luo Kitgi Gi Timbegi, the Luo carefully observe burial rituals during the mourning and burial of a dignified member of the community.
The book, written by one of the community’s foremost culturalists and former chairman of the Luo Council of Elders Ker Paul Mboya, says an elder is mourned for three days.
During this period, various cultural undertakings are conducted to mark the celebration of the life and times of the fallen elder.
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Mzee Ogongo Oyano, a Luo elder from the Nyakach clan in Nyakach Sub-County, says the news of the death of a Luo elder is broken by his first wife, who goes wailing to inform the community of the passing of their patriarch.
Another elder, Jotham Ondu, alias Ajiki Koth Yamo, adds that the news was done in the evening hours when the sun was just about to set, regardless of the time of the elder’s death.
“The news of the death of an elder, Golo ywak, is broken in the evening. If he dies in the morning, people would just be informed, but they must stay calm until evening when they can officially begin the mourning, because that is the time set aside for the mourning of a Luo elder to begin,” Ajiki said.
Ajiki says that the notable cultural practice to be observed was that the news was to be broken from the first wife’s hut, od Mikayi.
But the news of Raila Odinga’s death was broken by his elder brother Oburu Oginga, the spokesperson of the Jaramogi Oginga’s family.
Dr Oburu, who is also Raila’s eldest brother, arrived at Raila’s Opoda farm at exactly 4pm on Thursday and headed to the house where short prayers were conducted.
This was the first time Raila’s door was opened since he was pronounced dead on Wednesday.
No one had been allowed to enter Raila’s house but mourners were only allowed into the compound.
Oburu, who was received by an emotional crowd, said they had to change part of the programme after Raila’s supporters overwhelmed them.
“We had to adjust the burial day from Saturday to Sunday in order to fulfil my brother’s wish of being buried within 72 hours,” said Oburu.
Oburu said Raila wrote his will but he did not know that he would die outside the country.
Oburu, who addressed the gathering in Opoda, then left for Kan’go where he identified the burial spot for his brother.
According to Mzee Nyandiko Ongadi, a Luo elder from Homa Bay County, when a Luo elder dies away from his home, the body is required to be repatriated as fast as possible, through his home’s gate.
“When a Luo elder dies outside his home, he is to be brought home as soon as possible. He should be brought home through his gate, then he is taken to his house with his first wife.” Nyandiko said.
As the body is brought in, traditional Luo mourning rituals and cultural dances, wailing by women, performance of the dirge “Sigweya” by the elders, as well as a mock fight among the community’s warriors, would be witnessed.
The cultural acts, he adds, continue as the body arrives in the compound, where it is placed for a while inside the first wife’s house before being removed outside for the community members to view and pay their last respects.
Tero Buru, which happens either three days after his burial or on a later date agreed on by the community, was meant to drive the spirit of death from the community as far away as possible.
“Three days after the burial, mourners converge again at the elder’s home for Tero Buru,” Ajiki said.