Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has paid a solemn visit to the grave of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga in Bondo, Siaya County, a day after the statesman was laid to rest.
Arriving quietly at the Odinga family home in Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, Uhuru joined family members in what became a deeply personal moment of reflection.
In a video seen by the Star, Uhuru walked to the fresh gravesite, where Raila was interred on Sunday, October 19, 2025 and stood in silence as he paid his respects.
The former President bowed his head in prayer, remaining still for several moments.
At one point, he extended his hand towards the grave before continuing his silent reflection. He later clasped his hands together and prayed, his head lowered throughout the solemn act.
The intimate moment came with several members who stood nearby, offering quiet support.
The atmosphere was heavy with emotion, as the family and Uhuru honoured the memory of the man who was not only a political ally at one time, but also a long-standing friend.
Uhuru’s visit carried deep symbolic weight.
Throughout his presidency, he and Raila shared both rivalry and unity, culminating in the historic 2018 “handshake” that reshaped Kenya’s political landscape.
Their partnership was credited with diffusing political tensions and stabilising the country after the contentious 2017 elections.
Hundreds of mourners in Siaya County on Sunday had forced their way into the ancestral home, breaching tight security to access the burial site of former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga.
The emotional crowd, carrying twigs and chanting Raila’s name, surged past police and military officers moments after the casket had been lowered into the grave.
The mourners wailed uncontrollably as they made their way to the graveside, where final preparations were underway to seal the burial site.
Security officers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), the National Police Service, and county enforcement units had formed multiple rings of security around the family home to control access to the area.
However, the sheer number of mourners who had gathered outside the gates overwhelmed the officers, leading to a brief moment of confusion.
The crowd began pushing forward after the final prayer and committal rites were completed.
President William Ruto had left the burial site, but former President Uhuru Kenyatta and family members were still present.
Despite officers’ repeated appeals for calm, mourners insisted on getting closer to the grave to pay their final respects.
As they surrounded the grave, mourners sang traditional Luo dirges and liberation songs associated with Raila’s long political journey.
The quiet gesture comes amid a wave of national and continental mourning, as leaders and citizens continue to reflect on Raila’s legacy.
