DAP–Kenya Party leader Eugene Wamalwa on Saturday led a delegation of Western Kenya leaders and elders to Bondo, where they joined Kenyans in mourning the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.
Wamalwa said he arrived at Kan’go ka Jaramogi in Bondo “with bulls and Luhya elders and a cross section of leaders from the Mulembe Nation to honour our departed hero and leader from our region, the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga.”
He praised the unity shown by Western leaders during the visit, singling out county chiefs who represented the entire region.
“I salute the entire leadership of Western Kenya, including Governors Fernandes Barasa and his Kakamega County delegation, Paul Otuoma and his Busia County delegation, George Natembeya with his Trans Nzoia County delegation, Wafula Wamunyinyi and Eseli Simiyu with the Bungoma County delegation and the Vihiga County delegation,” he said.
Wamalwa reflected on the long-standing ties between the Luhya and Luo communities, describing it as “a very deep and special relationship” that has lasted more than six decades.
He traced this bond to the friendship between Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and great Western leaders like Masinde Muliro, Martin Shikuku, and Senator William Wamalwa.
He noted that his own family’s connection to the Odingas had continued through generations, recalling how his late brother, Vice President Michael Kijana Wamalwa, shared a strong political journey with Raila Odinga.
“They were comrades in arms from their days as lecturers at the University of Nairobi in the 70s to their FORD Kenya days, to the NARC days in 2003 when they joined hands with Kibaki to remove KANU from power after 40 years, before Wamalwa passed on and Raila arrived in style with over 10 bulls to mourn him,” he said.
Wamalwa described Raila’s death as a painful loss but emphasised that his legacy must live on.
“Though death has robbed us of Baba, our leader, friend and neighbour, it cannot rob us of the memorable years of friendship, good neighbourliness, comradeship in the struggle and the joint vision of a better Kenya,” he stated.
He urged Kenyans to honour Raila’s legacy by defending the freedoms and democratic ideals he stood for.
“The best way to honour Baba is to jealously guard the now endangered freedom, civil liberties and democratic principles that he fought for and fiercely defend his favourite child—Devolution,” said Wamalwa.
He concluded that devolution “holds the key to a more just, more equitable, more inclusive Kenya with shared prosperity.”