A quiet but deeply symbolic moment unfolded inside Parliament on Friday, October 17, as Raila Odinga’s only surviving son, Raila Junior, stepped forward to honour his late father.
Before the eyes of grieving family members and political figures, he lifted his father’s fly whisk — the orengo — and waved it gently over the casket. Then, with a brief bow, he placed it down beside Raila’s iconic hat, a gesture heavy with meaning.
It was a scene that blended grief and continuity. For the Odinga family, and for many Kenyans, it marked not just the passing of a patriarch but the quiet passing of a torch.
A Family’s Farewell, a Nation’s Symbolism
The ceremony, held as the Odinga family paid their respects to the late former Prime Minister, was both intimate and public.
Winnie Odinga, Raila’s youngest daughter, and their aunt, also stepped forward in turn, each moment soaked in sorrow and reverence.
When Raila Junior raised the whisk — once used by both his father and grandfather — many in attendance recognised its significance. In Luo tradition, the orengo is more than an ornament; it embodies authority, wisdom, and leadership. It is carried by elders, chiefs, and respected figures, often during ceremonies and political gatherings.
Raila Odinga himself was rarely seen without it at key rallies and funerals, where it became part of his trademark alongside his white fedora hat. He had famously carried the whisk earlier this year during the burial of Ongondo Were and that of his long-time aide, George Oduor.
A Subtle Passing of the Baton?
Whether Raila Junior’s act signalled a political succession remains unclear. The family has made no statement on any such transition. Still, for many watching, the gesture carried undertones of legacy and lineage — an heir acknowledging the weight of history.
At the end of the brief ritual, Raila Junior bowed deeply before his father’s body — a simple but powerful act of respect.
Since the death of his elder brother Fidel Castro Odinga in 2015, Raila Junior has largely kept out of the political limelight. He runs several business ventures and is known for his reserved lifestyle, occasionally sharing personal reflections online but rarely engaging in partisan discourse.
For those familiar with the Odinga family’s story, the sight of the fly whisk and hat together evoked decades of struggle, triumph, and steadfastness. From Jaramogi to Raila — and now, symbolically, to Raila Junior — the objects have come to represent not just a family’s history, but a nation’s evolving political heritage.