Mudavadi Visits Bondo As Kenya Reflects On Raila’s Legacy And the Future of Western Politics

By Robai Ludenyi,

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi visited the home of the late Raila Odinga in Bondo, Siaya County, to comfort the family and pay his respects to a man many Kenyans saw as a champion of democracy.

The visit, though meant to mourn a friend, carried a deeper political meaning. Raila’s death has left a major gap in Kenya’s leadership and raised new questions about what lies ahead, especially in the Western and Nyanza regions where he had deep political roots.

Mudavadi, together with a group of leaders from Western Kenya, joined Mama Ida Odinga and family members in prayer and reflection. Behind the emotional moments, many could sense that the country’s politics was quietly entering a new phase. Without Raila, who for decades stood as a unifying voice and symbol of reform, the power dynamics in national and regional politics are likely to shift.

For the Luhya community, this moment feels both uncertain and defining. Raila was not only a political ally but also a link between the Luo and Luhya people. His passing has left many wondering how the two regions will relate politically moving forward, and who might emerge to carry forward his vision for unity and justice.

In Bondo, conversations among leaders and locals turned to the political future of Western Kenya. Many residents expressed hope that their leaders would use this moment to come together and work with a common purpose rather than compete against each other. Others voiced concern that new rivalries could emerge as different political camps try to fill the space Raila once occupied.

Among those who attended the visit were National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, Governors James Orengo, Fernandes Barasa, and Paul Otuoma, and several members of parliament. As Kenyans mourn the former Prime Minister, one thing is clear: his death has reshaped the country’s political conversation. The people of Western Kenya now face a key moment: whether to unite for a stronger voice on the national stage or allow internal divisions to weaken their influence once again.

Read Also: We Need a Commission to Oversee Kenya’s Insatiable Borrowing, Mudavadi

The author is Robai Ludenyi. Journalist and Media Innovator