A wave of solemn anticipation swept through Bondo on Saturday afternoon as Mama Ida Odinga — widow of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga — symbolically prepared to receive her husband’s body at their matrimonial home in Opoda Farm.
Flanked by Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, Mama Ida addressed the press, her composure dignified yet deeply emotional. Behind her, Siaya Governor James Aggrey Bob Orengo and Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi could be seen in the background, quietly coordinating last-minute arrangements alongside security and state officials. The atmosphere was both ceremonial and personal — the threshold of a historic homecoming.
“This is not just the return of a husband and father,” Mama Ida said softly. “It is the homecoming of a patriot who gave his all for this country. We welcome him back to rest among his ancestors.”
As the press briefing unfolded, the wider Bondo township and its surrounding villages were a beehive of activity. The hum of engines, the rhythmic shuffle of feet, and the shrill of boda boda horns blended into a single, expectant buzz. A swelling cloud of humanity — walking, riding, driving, and even a few crawling through the crowd — moved slowly toward the road leading to Opoda Farm and others to Kang’o ka Jaramogi.
The hearse carrying Raila’s body had already left Mamboleo grounds in Kisumu under full military escort, and news of its progress spread through word of mouth and social media updates. Every minute heightened the tension and emotion. Residents lined the roadside, straining to catch even the briefest glimpse of the cortege that bore the man many still call Baba — a symbol of courage, resistance, and relentless hope.
Many mourners, wrapped in party colors or clutching portraits of Raila, said they intended to remain in Bondo for the traditional four-day vigil that will follow the burial. Some had trekked from as far as Sigomere in Ugenya, others from Bar-Olengo in Alego-Usonga — their presence a testament to the depth of Raila’s connection with the people he championed.
Governor Wanga praised Mama Ida’s steadfastness, calling her “a tower of strength in both public life and private grief.” Sifuna echoed the sentiment, saying, “Mama Ida stands as a living embodiment of sacrifice and endurance — the same virtues Baba lived by.”
Within the family compound, final touches were being made to receive the body. Security was tight but respectful, with uniformed officers, clergy, and elders coordinating the solemn ceremonies that will precede the burial. Traditional Luo rituals of cleansing and homecoming were set to accompany the formal state honors — a fitting blend of culture and country paying homage to one of Kenya’s most consequential sons.
As the afternoon progresses, the distant wail of sirens from the Kisumu-Bondo highway send ripples through the waiting crowds. Every head turns. Every murmur is stilled, only for it to be another ambulance bearing first responders or a police vehicle. The atmosphere is tense with palpable expectations.
Raila Odinga — the man whose political life shaped Kenya’s democracy for decades — is finally coming home.
The multitude gathered in Bondo are united by grief, tempered by gratitude and a loss so profound that even years spent on reporting catastrophies has not equipped me with appropriate words.
“Welcome home, Baba.”
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