Sakaja and Orengo visit Raila’s grave in Bondo
By Kenneth Mwenda, October 21, 2025Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and his Siaya counterpart James Orengo have visited the grave of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County.
The Tuesday, October 21, 2025, visit came two days after Raila’s burial, as leaders and supporters continue to pay tribute to the opposition leader whose political influence shaped generations.
The governors’ gesture followed similar visits by former President Uhuru Kenyatta and other leaders who have continued to honour Raila’s legacy after his state funeral on Sunday.
Raila, who was laid to rest at his family home, was accorded full state honours, including a 17-gun salute and military ceremony. His burial drew thousands of mourners and top leaders, among them President William Ruto, who posthumously conferred on him the Chief of the Golden Heart (CGH), Kenya’s highest national honour.
Raila mediated Nairobi tensions
For Sakaja, the visit carried a deeper meaning. The ODM leader had been instrumental in mediating political tensions in Nairobi and guiding the city’s leadership.
Barely two months before his death, Raila held a closed-door meeting with Sakaja, his deputy Njoroge Muchiri, and senior officials of the Nairobi County Assembly to address growing rifts between the executive and the assembly.
The talks, held in late August, focused on improving collaboration within the county government to ensure effective service delivery.
“We told Mzee [Raila] that the governor has no reason to panic as there was no motion yet to impeach him. However, we also acknowledged that there are issues between the county executive and assembly, which must be addressed,” said one of the participants, who requested anonymity.
During that meeting, Raila and National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed advised Sakaja to strengthen his engagement with Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and maintain open dialogue to prevent unnecessary political tension.
Junet, a former mayor, told Sakaja that inclusive leadership was key to stability in city governance.
Raila’s hand in Nairobi politics had been evident for years. He often mediated between the governor and ODM members in the assembly when disputes arose, emphasising teamwork and focus on service delivery.