Wamalwa denies disunity among Western leaders over separate bull presentations to Raila’s family
By Mabonga Makhanu, October 23, 2025The Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) has dismissed claims of disunity among Western Kenya leaders after they presented bulls separately to the family of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Speaking on a local radio station on Thursday, October 23, 2025, after leaders from the region made individual presentations, Eugene Wamalwa explained that the act by Luhya leaders should not be mistaken for disunity but rather seen as a reflection of the deep love they had for Raila Odinga.
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Wamalwa stated that the Western region shares close ties with the late Raila Odinga, closer than even the Kalenjin community, since Raila himself often boasted of being the eleventh grandchild of Nabongo Mumia, the king of the Wanga community.
He added that, according to Luhya culture, when a funeral befalls a family, one rushes to console the bereaved with whatever they have rather than waiting to organise a joint presentation.
This, he said, explains why the leaders each hurried to the Odinga family with their own portion of bulls, since Raila, despite being from the Luo community, was considered one of their own.
“When death befalls someone according to the Luhya culture, you rush with whatever you have to console the family and do not contribute so as to make a joint presentation,” Wamalwa stated.
Presentation of bulls
This followed reports that Western Kenya leaders had each delivered bulls to the Odinga family separately, sparking speculation of division among them.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi was the first to lead Maragoli elders in presenting bulls, followed by Eugene Wamalwa and other DAP-K leaders who also performed the tero buru ritual.
Wamalwa defended his actions, noting that it was a gesture of reciprocation for what the late Raila Odinga had done for his family during the death of his elder brother and former Vice President, Michael Wamalwa Kijana.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya also followed suit, arriving with elders to deliver his portion of bulls.
On Sunday, October 19, 2025, a few minutes before the body of the late Prime Minister left his Opoda Farm for Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya brought his portion together with 15 sacks of maize. He explained that, according to the Wanga sub-tribe, one should not present bulls before the body of the deceased arrives home, hence his delay.
Three days after the burial, Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka also visited Raila’s Bondo home, where he was received by Siaya Governor James Orengo.
Lusaka said that, according to Luhya customs, the third day after burial is significant—it is when such rituals are performed and the family begins to share what the departed left behind.