Why elders performed head-shaving ritual on Raila Junior

Raila Odinga Junior was the main man at a special occassion held at the Raila family’s Opoda Farm in Bondo, Siaya County, on Thursday, October 23.

This occassion saw Raila Junior installed as the head of the Raila family.

But before being installed as the head of the family, Raila Junior had to undergo a certain ritual—head shaving. This cultural practice usually comes four days (nights) after the burial.

The former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was laid to rest in a state funeral with full military honours on Sunday, October 19, with today being the fourth day after the solemn ceremony.

The head shaving ritual symbolically signifies the shedding of the past life. When the hair grows back, it also signifies the assumption of new life with new responsibilities of the head of the family,as is in Raila Junior’s case.

The shaving was done by one of Raila Junior’s grandmothers, witnessed by elders, family members, and close allies.

Raila Odinga Junior had his head shaved at his father’s Opoda Farm in Bondo to mark a new beginning following his father’s death. pic.twitter.com/zDJvoryn7f
— TV 47 Digital (@tv47digital) October 23, 2025

Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, who is the head of the larger Jaramogi family, said the traditional ceremony is done in public because the Luo take pride in their culture.

“This traditional ceremony is done in front of cameras because it is not a secret… Today is the fourth day after my brother was buried. In our culture, after the fourth night after burial, that is the day the funeral ends officially. That is when those girls who are married elsewhere go back to their houses and back to their husbands. That is the day when the boys are usually officially allowed to go back to their houses and even touch their wives if they have,” Senator Oburu explained.

Among those who attended the ceremony was Mama Ida Odinga, the larger Jaramogi family led by Senator Oburu Oginga and Kisumu County Woman Rep. Ruth Odinga, Governors James Orengo (Siaya), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) and Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi), Nairobi City County Assembly Kennedy Okeyo Ng’ondi, Joe Ager – a member of President William Ruto’s Council of Economic Advisers, just to name but a few.

Also in attendance were a few members of the public.