Peter Mbae: There are strategic visits to Raila’s Bondo home for political gain
By Nancy Marende, November 6, 2025The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) Secretary for Planning and Economic Affairs, Peter Mbae, has said that the increasing visits to the late Raila Odinga’s Bondo home are not merely acts of condolence but strategic political moves by various leaders seeking to position themselves for future influence.
Speaking on the ongoing stream of high-profile visits since the death of the veteran opposition leader, at a local TV station on Thursday, November 6, 2025, Mbae observed that Raila’s enduring political legacy continues to shape Kenya’s political landscape even in his absence.
“In life and in death. It’s been three weeks; every day, people feel he went so fast, and just by visiting the grave, something has happened. Whatever visits you are seeing now are because you cannot divorce Baba from politics, being who he was.”
According to Mbae, while some visitors may have genuine ties of friendship or family, others are clearly motivated by strategic political interests.
He cited recent visits by figures such as Martha Karua and the anticipated visit by Kalonzo Musyoka on November 6, 2025, suggesting that these appearances carry deeper political undertones.
“Look at Martha Karua; it was not just going to pay respects. She was going to say, ‘Hey, I came for the burial; I didn’t have a chance to eulogize Baba.’ As Raila’s 2022 running mate, it was a political statement,” he said.
Mbae also noted that Kalonzo Musyoka’s speech during Raila’s burial was met with enthusiasm, reflecting nostalgia and recognition among Odinga’s supporters.
“Kalonzo was cheered when he spoke in Bondo because people are going back and saying this man stood with Raila in 2013 and 2017. He was humiliated in 2022, but he’s now making a statement that he’s the one to inherit the consciousness of ODM and the Azimio fraternity,” he explained.
Mbae also addressed recent viral incidents surrounding Nuru Okanga, a staunch Raila supporter who claimed the late leader appeared to him in a dream.
“Nuru Okanga went and caused a lot of drama; maybe he wanted permission to go or raise his profile, saying that Raila appeared to him in a dream and was furious because he was buried with the whisk. The kind of drama that’s around Raila Odinga is just too much. I think somebody should document this,” Mbae remarked.