Raila’s Bondo anniversary exposes battle for his turf as Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid faces test

Royal Media Services chairman Dr Samuel Kamau Macharia has attended the first anniversary memorial service for former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga in Bondo, Siaya County. The commemoration took place on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the Migwena Cultural Grounds, as Kenyans came together to honor Raila, who passed away on October 15, 2025, while receiving medical treatment in India.

Dr Macharia's presence at the event underscores the long-standing personal connection he has with the Odinga family, which dates back more than three decades. This bond began during the political struggles involving Raila's father, former Vice-President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, in the early 1990s. Dr Macharia visited the Odinga family in Bondo shortly after Raila's burial in October 2025, expressing his deep personal ties to the family.

He mourned the loss of Ida Odinga, describing her as his sister and lamenting the loss of her husband, also a brother to him. Dr Macharia recounted Jaramogi's request for him to take care of his sons, Raila and Oburu Oginga, a responsibility that he believes has strengthened his enduring relationship with the Odinga family. Ida Odinga herself acknowledged Dr Macharia's support for the family since the early 1990s, including a visit to her during a difficult period in March 1992.

Dr Macharia's attendance at the anniversary ceremony represents more than a formal visit by a prominent business leader; it signifies the ongoing presence of a family friend whose relationship with the Odingas spans generations, political challenges, and personal loss.