BONDO — Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has paid tribute to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga with a symbolic gift of bulls delivered to his ancestral home in Opoda, Bondo.

The gesture, steeped in tradition, carried a message of solidarity from the Luhya community to the Luo nation — a reflection of Kenya’s shared grief and cultural unity following Raila’s death on 15 October.

On Saturday morning, a delegation of elders from Western Kenya arrived in Bondo, their attire a blend of cultural regalia and solemn reverence. They came bearing livestock — a gesture that, in Luhya custom, symbolises honour, peace, and shared mourning.

“Today we are bringing cows from our minister in solidarity with the departed,” one elder told mourners gathered at the Odinga homestead. Another added in metaphor, “If you put ugali without greens, it burns you. So we saw it fit to bring greens here. We brought cows and other items to honour the family.”

Their words drew nods and applause from the crowd, many touched by the symbolism of the act — a reminder that even in death, Raila’s legacy continues to bridge communities.

The delegation’s arrival was received by Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda and members of the Odinga family, who expressed gratitude for the show of goodwill. “This gesture speaks of brotherhood,” one family member said. “It shows that our unity as Kenyans runs deeper than politics.”

For generations, livestock gifts have carried weight in African tradition — often representing not just respect for the deceased, but also an unspoken bond between communities. In this case, Mudavadi’s gesture underscored that Raila’s passing was not merely a Luo loss, but a national one.

Mudavadi, a veteran politician and long-time ally-turned-rival of Raila, has often spoken of the former premier with respect despite their political differences. Their history stretches back to their shared days in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) — years that shaped Kenya’s multi-party politics.

As the bulls were led into the Odinga compound, mourners broke into soft ululations. Some wiped away tears. Others stood quietly, hands clasped, as the animals were received — a vivid moment of culture meeting compassion.

For many, it was more than a gesture. It was a statement: that in mourning Raila, Kenya stands together.

Raila Odinga, who died at 80, leaves behind a legacy of defiance, reform, and resilience. His burial is scheduled for Sunday, October 19, at his Bondo home in Siaya County.