Raila Odinga Junior, the son of the late ODM leader Raila Odinga, has undergone a traditional Luo ritual known as liedo — a head-shaving ceremony that marks the end of mourning for a deceased loved one.
The sacred ceremony took place at the Odinga family home in Opoda Farm, Bondo, Siaya County, four days after Raila’s burial. In Luo culture, shaving the head symbolizes cleansing, renewal, and a return to normal life after a period of grief.
During the ritual, Junior’s head was shaved in the presence of family elders and relatives who chanted blessings, asking the spirits of the ancestors to guide and protect him. He was also handed a spear and shield, signifying strength, protection, and his new role as the head of his late father’s household.
Siaya Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga, who oversaw the ceremony, explained that while Junior now leads the immediate family, the wider Odinga clan still looks up to him as the family elder. “This is a cultural responsibility passed on to ensure continuity and unity within the home,” Oburu said.
The liedo ritual is deeply rooted in Luo traditions, performed to mark closure and acceptance after death. It represents the cleansing of sorrow and the symbolic transition of leadership within the homestead. Families that skip the ritual are believed to carry lingering grief and misfortune.
For many Kenyans, especially those in the Nyanza region, this ritual also reflects the community’s respect for heritage, family structure, and ancestral customs. Though modern lifestyles have changed how some observe these traditions, ceremonies like Raila Junior’s remind the nation of the enduring strength of African culture.
As the Odinga family completes this important rite, the community now looks to Junior to uphold his father’s values of leadership, humility, and service — a reminder that while the elder Odinga’s journey has ended, his legacy continues through his family and traditions.
