Raila Odinga Junior was on Thursday formally installed as the new head of the Odinga family in a colourful Luo traditional ceremony held at their Opoda Farm home in Bondo, Siaya County.
The ceremony took place just days after the burial of his father, the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, marking a symbolic transfer of leadership within the Odinga household.
The installation signifies the continuation of lineage and responsibility in one of Kenya’s most prominent political families.
Raila Junior, the only surviving son of the late ODM leader, assumes the role following the death of his elder brother, Fidel Odinga, in 2015.
According to Luo customs, the eldest surviving son traditionally takes over as head of the family after the father’s death — a role that carries spiritual, cultural, and social weight.
The event, steeped in song, dance, and sacred rites, was presided over by Siaya Senator and family patriarch Dr. Oburu Oginga.
“It is a ceremony involving rites to give blessings to the new head of the family according to our culture,” Oburu explained.
“The shaving will be done by one of Junior’s grandmothers, and he will be given the necessary instruments of power and display them,”he added
Raila Odinga Junior being shaved during the ceremony.PHOTO/Gladys Wanga/FacebookAs part of the ritual, Raila Junior underwent a traditional shaving ceremony, symbolizing cleansing, renewal, and the beginning of new responsibilities.
Oburu clarified that while he remains the cultural head of the wider Odinga clan, Raila Junior will now lead his father’s immediate household alongside his mother, Ida Odinga.
“The seat of power in this home now rests with the new leader, Raila Junior, together with his mother,” Oburu declared.
“The mother will always be there to offer guidance and wisdom, but the young man must stand firm and lead this home. That is our culture.”
The ceremony coincided with the fourth day after burial, a spiritually important day in Luo tradition that marks the end of mourning and the start of renewal.
“This is not witchcraft; it is simply a blessing, the way our people have always done it. Religion does not stand against culture; the two must go hand in hand,” Oburu emphasized.
In essence, Raila Junior’s installation is both a personal and cultural milestone, ensuring continuity of leadership within the Odinga household and the preservation of Luo traditions that have guided generations.
