Bondo, Siaya County — Emotions ran high at the ancestral home of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga on Thursday afternoon, when Siaya County First Lady Betty Orengo broke down in tears moments after the arrival of Senator Oburu Oginga, who officially brought news of the ODM leader’s passing to his native home.
The video, which has since gone viral on social media, captured an emotional scene that has touched Kenyans across the country — a raw expression of grief that underscored the depth of personal and political loss felt within the Orange Democratic Movement family.
Oburu, Raila’s elder brother, landed in Bondo aboard a white chopper shortly after 4 p.m. on October 16. In keeping with Luo tradition, it was his solemn duty to officially inform the family and the community of the patriarch’s death (kelo yuak) — a symbolic and cultural act that precedes the commencement of burial plans.
Standing beside him during the televised announcement was Siaya Governor James Aggrey Bob Orengo and a number of Sakwa elders.
Respectably standing with the mourners was Betty Kaari Murungi, Orengo’s wife, dressed in a bright, patterned kitenge, she appeared visibly shaken, repeatedly wiping away tears as Oburu spoke. Moments later, overcome by emotion, she wept uncontrollably — her grief echoing the pain of a nation still coming to terms with the loss of a man many considered Kenya’s moral compass.
“He Checked on Us Like Family”
Later, in a brief media address, Betty Orengo paid a heartfelt tribute to the late opposition leader, recalling her personal interactions with him and the depth of his compassion.
“It’s painful beyond words,” she said, her voice trembling. “Raila was more than a political mentor to my husband — he was family. He would call, not just to speak to the Governor, but to check up on me and the children. He always wanted to know how we were doing.”
Betty’s tribute painted a portrait of Raila not only as a political giant but also as a deeply human figure whose concern for those around him transcended public office. “He demanded accountability, not just from leaders but from himself,” she said. “He would always remind us that integrity is not a favour you do the people — it is a duty.”
A Legacy of Sacrifice and Accountability
In her moving eulogy, Betty described Raila’s lifelong pursuit of democracy as “unequaled,” highlighting the countless sacrifices he endured — detentions, political persecution, and personal loss — all in the name of a freer Kenya.
“Many talk about democracy; Baba lived it, bled for it, and suffered for it,” she said. “He held his friends and allies to the highest standards because he knew that freedom without responsibility is chaos.”
Her words resonated deeply with the mourners gathered at the Bondo homestead, where the air was thick with grief and disbelief. For many, the loss of Raila is not merely the death of a man but the end of an era — the silencing of a voice that shaped Kenya’s political conscience for over four decades.
Burial Plans Underway
During his formal address, Senator Oburu Oginga announced that Raila will be laid to rest next to his late parents, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Mary Ajuma Odinga, as per his wishes. The family, he said, has begun coordinating with the national government and ODM officials to plan a befitting farewell for the veteran statesman.
In Luo culture, the act of officially announcing a loved one’s death at their homestead signifies the beginning of communal mourning. From that moment, the homestead becomes the spiritual and logistical centre of all burial preparations.
Nation in Mourning
As Betty Orengo wept openly, social media users poured in messages of empathy and solidarity. Many described her tears as symbolic of the pain felt by millions who saw Raila as the embodiment of resilience and hope.
Across the country, vigils have been held, church services organized, and flags flown at half-mast as Kenyans of all walks of life come to terms with the void left behind by the man fondly known as Baba.
Tonight, at Ahindi Gardens in the heart of Siaya town another candle lighting vigil led by George Adeya will be held.
The scenes from Bondo — the arrival of Oburu’s chopper, the haunting wails of mourners, and Betty’s tearful tribute — have since become defining images of a nation in collective sorrow.
An Irreplaceable Figure
“Raila is irreplaceable,” Betty concluded in her tribute. “He was the voice of the voiceless, a bridge between generations, and a father to many of us who learned to speak truth to power by watching him.”
As dusk fell over Bondo on that fateful Thursday evening, the sound of drums, dirges, and whispered prayers filled the air. For those who stood within the compound — and for millions watching from afar — one truth was undeniable: Kenya had lost not just a leader, but a legend.
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