Raila Odinga's surviving son, Junior, was on Thursday, October 23, officially recognised as the new family head in an intimate and important ritual just three days after the burial of the former Prime Minister.
Preparations for the ceremony at the late Raila Odinga’s Opoda Farm in Bondo began in earnest on Thursday, marked by a traditional shaving ritual known locally as liedo. This rite ushered in the symbolic transfer of leadership within the homestead to the next male heir.
The ceremony was marked by Luo traditional dancers who filled the compound, chanting rhythmic songs and movements to create an atmosphere of cultural pride and remembrance.
According to Luo customs, about four days after the burial of a patriarch, a succession rite is performed to ensure continuity. However, one has to be shaved as part of the culture before they can be installed.
According to Luo customs, liedo involves the symbolic shaving of the deceased's children and wife's head, signifying the end of mourning and the beginning of new leadership in the family.
In this case, Raila Odinga Junior, the late Odinga’s surviving son, was at the centre of the ceremony. Traditionally, the firstborn son would have assumed this role, but following the demise of his elder brother Fidel Odinga in 2015, Raila Jr inevitably became the head of the homestead.
Historically, the shaving ritual would have taken place near a body of water, often a river, as a cleansing act to wash away the shadows of the deceased's passing.. The practice has, however, evolved in recent times, with families performing the ceremony at home while still maintaining its symbolism.
During the ceremony, the heir's head is shaved to represent renewal and a transfer of authority from the deceased to the living.
The shaving act is usually done by the eldest woman, in this case a grandmother in the family, who would make three symbolic cuts before full shaving takes place in the presence of family members and close relatives.
While the heir's spouse and children are also traditionally expected to undergo the shaving ritual, the late Raila's brother, Oburu Odinga, appeared to suggest Raila Junior's wife had some reservations.
After the shaving, Raila Junior was handed a spear and shield and briefly performed a traditional dance to officially assume power as the head of the household. This signified being handed the mandate to speak on behalf, defend, and be allowed in extended family sittings.
Grave Maintenance
As time passes, the family continues to honour the deceased through grave maintenance and remembrance ceremonies, just like in modern contemporary cultures. These are often conducted on anniversaries or major family gatherings where offerings, songs, and communal feasts are held to keep the elder’s memory alive and to ensure peace within the lineage.
The Luo community believes that the end of life does not mark the end of existence but rather the transition into the ancestral world. Through these rituals, the deceased is 'welcomed among the ancestors', who are thought to protect and guide the living.
