Ruth Odinga Calls on Kikuyu and Luo Leaders to Foster Unity

Calls for national unity intensified on Thursday following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, as leaders and community representatives urged reconciliation between Kenya’s historically divided regions.

At a gathering at the late statesman’s home in Bondo, Siaya County, Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga appealed for renewed friendship between the Kikuyu and Luo communities. Speaking during a visit by Kikuyu elders who had come to offer condolences, she said her brother’s lifelong wish was to see these groups overcome divisions driven by politics. Ruth Odinga described the perceived hostility between the two communities as a result of electoral rivalry rather than genuine social conflict. 

“Even before he passed away, he really wanted Kikuyus and Luos to unite and work together,” she said, asking elders to help rebuild trust between the communities.

Her remarks came shortly after controversy over comments made by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga who in a viral video appeared to celebrate Raila's death as a political advantage for the Mt Kenya region. Kahiga suggested that the former Prime Minister’s passing would allow the region greater access to government resources, a statement widely condemned for its divisive tone.

Ruth Odinga’s message carried personal significance as well as political weight. She recalled her childhood at the Kisumu State Lodge, where she grew up alongside former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and spoke of the long-standing relationship between their families. 

The bond, she said, was rooted in the historic alliance between Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Jomo Kenyatta, and continued through the friendship between Raila and Uhuru despite their political differences. 

“They only differed in ideologies, but the friendship was there,” she said, expressing regret that such ties have weakened over time.

Earlier in the week, Royal Media Services Chairman Dr S.K. Macharia visited the Odinga family at Opoda Farm in Bondo to pay tribute to Raila’s legacy as a defender of democracy and justice. Mama Ida Odinga spoke of her family’s close relationship with Macharia, which began in the early 1990s, and praised his support through difficult times, including her dismissal from a teaching position in 1992.

Dr Macharia reflected on his long association with Raila and his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, recalling a final meeting with Jaramogi at Agip House in Nairobi. 

“Father like son-both gave so much of themselves to this country,” he said, recognising the Odinga family’s lasting contribution to Kenya’s political history.