Ruth Odinga shares emotional message after seeing Raila Odinga’s cemented grave
By Steve Ireri, October 18, 2025Late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s younger sister and Kisumu Woman Representative, Ruth Odinga, has shared an emotional message after visiting the completed grave of her late brother at the Kang’o Ka Jaramogi family mausoleum in Bondo, Siaya County.
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In a Facebook post on Saturday, October 18, 2025, Ruth said she felt deeply moved after seeing the freshly cemented grave, which now rests beside that of their late mother, Mama Mary Odinga.
She revealed that she had walked to their mother’s resting place to symbolically tell her that her son had finally come back home.
“Mama, I brought back your son,” she wrote in an emotional post after her visit.
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She added that she felt comforted knowing that Raila would be laid to rest close to their mother, describing the moment as both heartbreaking and healing for the entire family.
“I went to Kango Ka Jaramogi family mausoleum, specifically the grave of our beloved mother, Mama Mary Odinga, to tell her that her son, Raila Amollo Odinga, is back,” she added.
The Kisumu Woman Representative also expressed gratitude to the people of Bondo for the immense love and support they had shown during the mourning period.
She said their warmth and solidarity brought a smile to her grieving face, even as she continued to come to terms with the loss.
“Thank you Bondo people, for the love you showed brought a smile to my grieving face. It is well,” she added.
Her message came shortly after the military aircraft carrying Raila’s remains touched down at 4.00 pm at Opoda Farm in Bondo.
The moment was met with wails, chants, and vuvuzelas as thousands of mourners gathered to welcome the late opposition leader back home for the final time.
The casket, draped in the Kenyan flag, was received by Mama Ida Odinga, who led the family in viewing the body.
Raila’s remains were then taken to the homestead for an overnight vigil ahead of Sunday’s burial.
Earlier in the day, thousands had turned up at Mamboleo Grounds in Kisumu to view the body of the late statesman.
Many broke into freedom songs, while others wept openly as they filed past the casket in a final show of respect.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo confirmed that the decision to airlift the body from Kisumu to Bondo, rather than transporting it by road as initially planned, was made after consultations with the National Funeral Steering Committee and the family.
He explained that the arrangement was meant to ensure a dignified and well-coordinated send-off.
“The body of the former Prime Minister will be flown directly to Bondo. We want to make sure the transition from Kisumu to his home is done smoothly and respectfully,” Omollo said.
Raila, who passed away on Wednesday, October 15, in Kerala, India, will be buried on Sunday, October 19, at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, where he will rest beside both his father, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and their mother, Mama Mary Odinga, a symbolic reunion of the family’s most iconic figures.