Raila's last wish cheated community out of exploitative burial rites

Mama Ida Odinga and the family during the burial of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Bondo, on October 19, 2025. [PCS]

Today, Raila Odinga is a cherished memory. The man who sauntered across Kenya’s mercurial political landscape with trademark sneers gave up the ghost last week. To both friend and foe, his demise came as a shock and was unbelievable. Raila had grown in stature so much that he was the closest thing to being a deity. 

His death, however, debunked this subconscious assumption. He was human, born to die. The Olua tree, Luo name for Milicia excelsa, which the Igbo of Nigeria call the Iroko, had fallen. This tree symbolises strength and resilience, attributes that Raila had in abundance.