How Raila's grave has symbolically transformed Kan'go

Turkana delegation led by ODM vice chair and Turkana South MP John Ariko lays a wreath at the grave of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Kang'o Ka Jaramogi, Bondo, on October 26, 2025. [Michael Mute, Standard] The ancestral home of Kenya's first Vice-President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, has become a centre of attraction for thousands of mourners and admirers of the late Raila Odinga. For years, few visitors, mostly historians and ageing political loyalists, occasionally made the journey to Jaramogi's Kan'go home in West Sakwa Ward. However, since Raila's burial last week, the homestead, a few kilometres from Bondo town, has witnessed a steady stream of visitors. Every day, visitors have been trooping to Kan'go to see where the former Prime Minister was laid to rest and to take photographs beside the grave that now stands as a symbol of Kenya's long struggle for democracy. Some arrive in buses adorned with ODM flags, while others come on foot, singing freedom songs, chanting his name and capturing videos as keepsakes. "This is history. We grew up hearing about Baba's sacrifices, and now we just want to stand here and feel part of his story," said Rose Akinyi, a resident of Kisumu. Beyond photography, Kan'go has evolved into a space of cultural expression and spiritual reflection. Groups of nyatiti players and traditional dancers gather daily beneath tall trees, performing Luo grief songs that capture both sorrow and pride. The rhythm of drums, the echo of the orutu and the mournful plucking of the nyatiti fill the air as mourners clap and sway gently in unison. Arsenal fans visit the grave of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Kang'o Ka Jaramogi, Bondo, on October 26, 2025. [Michael Mute, Standard] "When we play here, it's more than music-it's our way of speaking to Baba's spirit, to tell him that his people are still here, carrying his dream," said Maurice Okumu, a nyatiti player. Religious groups have also made Kan'go part of their pilgrimage. Members of the Legio Maria Church, dressed in white robes, sing hymns and burn incense as they pray near the graveside. The Nomiya Church, one of Kenya's oldest African-initiated churches, has held prayer vigils at the site, blending Christian rituals with traditional blessings. Kan'go's transformation has also sparked economic activity in what was once a quiet rural community. Vendors line the footpaths selling water, fruit, orange ribbons and framed portraits of Raila. Local youth act as guides, narrating the Odinga family's history for small tips, while photographers charge between Sh100 and Sh300 for graveside photos, some offering instant printouts. "It's not just about pictures; people want to capture a piece of history," said 24-year-old photographer John Paul "Before Raila's death, maybe one or two people would come in a week. Now, hundreds come daily," said Daniel Okello. Siaya Governor James Orengo, who hosted seven governors at Kan'go on Saturday, said the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum and Museum are gazetted tourist sites. "This place tells our history. We urge our people to visit and reconnect with our culture," he said.

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