Thousands of mourners converged on Migwena Cultural and Sports Ground in Bondo, Siaya County, on Thursday to mark one year since the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, in a memorial that mixed prayer, music and tributes with open political tension over the absence of ODM leader Oburu Oginga.

Raila died on 15 October 2025, aged 80, while receiving medical treatment in India, and was buried at his ancestral home in Bondo days later. Thursday's ceremony was the climax of a three-day commemoration organised by a national steering committee chaired by Prof Adams Oloo.

Mourners began arriving at the grounds from early morning, many dressed in the orange associated with Raila and his Orange Democratic Movement, while police directed the crowds into designated areas. The programme featured prayers, gospel music, cultural performances and speeches from the Odinga family and political allies.

Family and opposition leaders attend

Raila's widow, Ida Odinga, led the family, accompanied by Raila Odinga Junior, Winnie Odinga and Rosemary Odinga. Political figures at the grounds included Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino. Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka also travelled to Bondo at the head of a group of opposition politicians.

President William Ruto, who had been listed on the published programme as expected to attend, was not present. His official schedule for the day placed him at development events in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, according to reports. The President was in Bondo eight days earlier, on 7 October, when he commissioned and handed over the Raila Amolo Odinga Mausoleum at Kang'o ka Jaramogi to the family.

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, who helped run proceedings, described the gathering as at once a remembrance, a religious service, a family occasion and a cultural event, and urged the crowd to keep the peace.

Crowd demands answers on Oburu

The atmosphere turned restless at points as sections of the crowd chanted questions about the whereabouts of Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, Raila's elder brother, who succeeded him as ODM party leader. Oburu, who also missed the mausoleum handover on 7 October, has been unwell in recent weeks, with his family saying he is recovering and has been advised to limit his movements.

Ida stepped in to calm the crowd, telling mourners that Oburu was not feeling well but was alive, and that his doctors had advised him to avoid large and noisy gatherings. She asked those present to respect the purpose of the day and allow the programme to continue.

"The main reason we are here is to commemorate Baba," she had said ahead of the event, according to Citizen Digital, as she and Governor Orengo appealed to leaders not to turn the anniversary into a contest between political camps.

Ida's appeal for tolerance

In an emotional address, Ida recalled having released her husband to public life to fight for Kenyans, only for him to be returned to her in a coffin. People Daily quoted her saying, "I gave you Baba alive, you gave him back to me in a coffin."

She urged older leaders to give young people room to learn and grow and to correct them "with love", while asking the youth to respect their elders and the solemnity of the occasion. She also called on Kenyans to embrace reconciliation and political tolerance.

The family had in the run-up to the anniversary called for a political ceasefire, with members warning that the memorial should not become a stage for rival factions to show off their numbers.

A three-day programme

The commemorations opened on Tuesday at Ofafa Memorial Hall in Kisumu with an intergenerational dialogue bringing together the Luo Council of Elders, young people, women and religious leaders to reflect on Raila's legacy, peace and public participation. The day also featured poetry, music and a blood donation drive.

On Wednesday evening, a candle-lighting ceremony led by Ida Odinga was scheduled at Raila's burial site at Kang'o ka Jaramogi, with supporters in Kenya and abroad invited to light candles at the same hour.

Separately, ODM has rolled out its own month of activities, dubbed "Mwezi wa Baba", to celebrate Raila's role in Kenya's democratic struggle and his Pan-African work. Reports in the weeks before the anniversary pointed to differences between the party and the family over how the occasion should be marked.

Politics without Raila

The anniversary comes as Kenya's political class repositions ahead of the 2027 General Election, the first in decades in which Raila will not be a central figure. His death left ODM navigating questions over its leadership and over its working relationship with President Ruto's administration, which the party joined under a broad-based arrangement in Raila's final months.

The heavy presence of opposition figures at Migwena, set against the absence of the President, underlined how contested Raila's political inheritance has become, one year on. Leaders across the divide have each claimed to be custodians of his legacy, while his family has repeatedly insisted that he belonged to all Kenyans rather than to any single camp.

ODM's programme of memorial activities continues through the rest of October.

Photos: The Standard; KBC (Migwena grounds, Bondo, 15 October 2026)