From Nyeri to Bondo: Kikuyu Elders Honour Raila with Bulls and Blessings
A delegation of Kikuyu elders, led by Ndia MP George Kariuki, on October 22, 2025, made an emotional pilgrimage to Opoda Farm in Bondo, where they prayed at the grave of the late Raila Odinga, who passed away on October 15 after a heart attack.
The elders offered bulls and traditional blessings as a sign of respect and reconciliation, days after the ODM leader’s state funeral on October 19. Their symbolic gesture — rare in Kenya’s often divided political landscape — aimed to promote peace and unity between the Kikuyu and Luo communities, whose relations have at times been strained by politics.
Odinga’s widow, Dr. Ida Odinga, and family members welcomed the elders warmly, praising their act as a powerful message of healing and solidarity.
The visit comes just a week after tribal tensions flared following controversial remarks from some Mount Kenya politicians, sparking nationwide debate about ethnic divisions.
“Our journey here is a message to all Kenyans — that unity is greater than politics,” said MP Kariuki, addressing mourners and local leaders who gathered for the brief ceremony.
The gesture has since been widely shared on social media, with many Kenyans calling it a moment of reconciliation that Raila himself would have approved of.
