Raila Odinga Jr (often referred to as “Junior”) has been formally crowned as the head of the Odinga family at a traditional ceremony held in the family home in Bondo, Siaya County. During the ceremony on Thursday, 23rd, October, 2025, Raila Junior was fully termed as Raila Odinga successor.
READ ALSO: Raila Odinga Junior wife, Yvonne Andega Kibukosya, and children
This comes a week after his father, the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, passed away and was buried on Sunday, 19th October, 2025. According to sources, the vibrant ceremony featured Luo cultural ceremonies, singing, and dance.
Oburu Odinga speaks about the succession
Oburu Oginga, Raila’s older brother and a Siaya senator, said the installation symbolized the passing of family leadership to the late ODM leader’s son.
“It is a ceremony involving rites to give blessings to the new head of the family according to our culture,” Dr. Oburu said.
READ ALSO: Odinga family; A list of Raila Odinga siblings
“The shaving will be done by one of Junior’s grandmothers, and he will be given the necessary instruments of power and display them,” he claimed.
What does the succession ceremony symbolize?
According to Oburu Odinga, the event was strictly cultural and not political, and that it was carried out in line with traditional Luo traditions that govern a family’s succession once a patriarch passes away.
Elders from the community as well as family members and relatives attended the ceremony. Throughout the event, traditional singers and dancers performed, and Raila Jr. was dressed in an animal-skin cloak and given a traditional Luo shield.
READ ALSO: Winnie Odinga political career and future ambitions
Following Luos’ cultural customs, the eldest son takes over the family’s leadership role after his father dies. However, Senior family members clarified that while Junior assumes headship of the immediate household, the larger Odinga clan remains under the cultural authority of his uncle Oburu Oginga.
- READ ALSO:
Raila Odinga junior biography; age, education, career, wife, children, medical condition, family role - The late Raila Odinga brother, Oburu Odinga biography: age, education, career, wives, children, legacy
- Rosemary Odinga biography; age, education, career, ex-husband, children, achievements, snail business, influence
I am an actress at Ndizi Tv and fun fair writer at Kenyan Moves News and Media Website.
