Raila Odinga Junior
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s son, Raila Junior, has been installed as the new head of Raila’s family.
Raila Junior was installed in a colourful ceremony held at the family’s home in Opoda farm, Bondo, Siaya County, on Thursday, October 23.
Speaking during the ceremony, Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga clarified that the event was not about political leadership but family leadership.
“This is not political leadership, but this is the leadership of the home, the larger Odinga family, which I chair, is still under me, just like his father was under me in the cultural leadership of the home,” he stated.
Senator Oburu noted that the installation marked the symbolic transfer of family leadership to the late ODM leader’s son.
“This is a traditional ceremony to symbolically give the son of my brother, the late Raila Odinga, his son, Raila Odinga, the seat of power of the home.
“He is now the leader of this home, together with the mother. The mother will be there to give him all the advice he needs, but he must stand firm and lead the home as per our culture.”
In the ceremony, Raila Junior was given a traditional Luo shield and adorned with an animal skin cloak, a spear, and traditional Luo attire.
He was also shaven on the head to symbolize new beginnings as the head of the family.
The traditional event was attended by members of the Odinga family, relatives, community elders, and politicians.
According to the Luo traditions, the eldest son assumes the family’s leadership mantle upon the passing of his father.
Raila Junior is Raila’s only surviving son, following the passing of his elder brother, Fidel Castro Odinga, in 2015.
Railla was laid to rest on Sunday, October 19, at his ancestral home in Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, Bondo, Siaya County.
