Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has paid tribute to the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga through a symbolic cultural gesture deeply rooted in tradition. Mudavadi sent bulls to Raila’s ancestral home in Opodo, Bondo, a mark of solidarity and respect from the Mulembe community during Kenya’s national mourning period.
On Saturday, a delegation of elders from Western Kenya, adorned in traditional regalia, arrived in Bondo to deliver the livestock and convey Mudavadi’s condolences to the Odinga family. The elders described the gesture as a reflection of unity and brotherhood that transcends political and ethnic boundaries.
“Today we bring cows from our minister in solidarity with the departed,” one elder said, symbolizing Mudavadi’s tribute to a leader revered for his lifelong fight for democracy and justice. Another elder used a proverb to capture the sentiment: “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.”
The gesture was warmly received by Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda and members of the Luo community who gathered at the Odinga homestead. They expressed gratitude, noting that the act reflected Kenya’s enduring spirit of togetherness even in times of grief.
For the Luhya community, sending bulls carries profound meaning—signifying honour, respect, and shared mourning. By doing so, Mudavadi emphasized that Raila’s passing is not just a Luo or Nyanza loss, but a national bereavement.
Despite their complex political past, Mudavadi’s move underscored a moment of unity above politics. As the bulls were led into the compound, mourners witnessed a poignant symbol of national solidarity—one that echoed Raila Odinga’s lifelong vision of a united Kenya.
