Kisumu West holds a special place in the story of Raila Amolo Odinga, not merely as a political constituency, but as the cradle of his roots, faith and family.
It is in Maseno, nestled within Kisumu West, that Raila was born. It is here that he was baptised, raised and later built his family residence, a place he often retreated to for reflection and communion with the people he so deeply loved.
Many of the Odinga family members, including former Kisumu Deputy Governor and currenty, Kisumu county woman MP, Ruth Odinga Busia, have also made Kisumu West their home.
The bond between the Odingas and the people of Kisumu West is therefore not a political convenience but a shared heritage, cemented through generations of loyalty, identity and belonging.
This connection was once again brought to life when Elisha Jack Oraro, Speaker of the Kisumu County Assembly and ODM’s Kisumu West parliamentary aspirant, led a delegation on a symbolic visit to celebrate and reflect on Raila Odinga’s enduring legacy.
The delegation, diverse in its composition, spoke volumes about the unity and inclusivity that Raila himself championed.
It comprised the clergy, the local administration, professionals, the political class (including former elected members, MP aspirants and serving Members of County Assembly), the elders led by Luo Council of Elders chairman Ker Odungi Randa and ODM members drawn from youth and women wings.
Each group represented a pillar of community, a reminder that Oraro’s political grounding, much like Raila’s, is deeply woven into the social fabric of Kisumu West.
In his address, Ker Odungi Randa struck a reflective tone, urging peace and unity.
“Raila Odinga was a man who loved peace. He always believed that no community could progress without unity,” said Ker Randa. “It is not surprising that he had a strong bond with Speaker Oraro, because Elisha too is a man of peace who values harmony among his people,” he added. “I urge president Ruto to keep uniting this country the way Raila Odinga left it,” he emphasized.
Speaker Oraro echoed the elder’s message, calling for calm, inclusivity and tolerance within the Orange Democratic Movement.
“Anyone who wishes to join ODM should be welcomed with open arms,” said Oraro. “That is what Baba would have wanted. He envisioned a party that unites, not divides; a movement that embraces all who believe in justice and democracy.”
He dismissed ongoing speculations of internal cracks within the party, reaffirming ODM’s strength and resilience.
Conspicuously absent during the visit was area MP Rosa Buyu, who was reportedly away on official duties abroad. She was, however, represented by the Kisumu West Constituency Manager.
The meeting was more than a political statement. It was a pilgrimage of memory and meaning. It reaffirmed Kisumu West’s central place in the Odinga legacy and, perhaps more importantly, reminded all present that the spirit of Raila Odinga of unity, peace and inclusion, still breathes strongest where his journey began.
