BONDO, Kenya — Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka paid a deeply symbolic and traditional tribute to his long-time political ally, the late Raila Odinga, on Thursday by delivering dozens of cattle to Odinga’s Opoda Farm home.
Reports indicate that Musyoka arrived with approximately 100 cattle, a grand show of respect that highlighted the depth of his personal and political admiration for the former Prime Minister.
The gesture has become one of the most striking tributes paid to Mr. Odinga, whose death on October 15 triggered an outpouring of national and international grief.
The Tero Buru ritual
The arrival of Mr. Musyoka and his delegation at the Odinga homestead was met with the traditional chant of “Jowi! Jowi!”—an exclamation of valour meaning “buffalo,” used in Luo culture to hail a great warrior.
The tribute forms part of the sacred Luo ritual known as Tero Buru. The ceremony’s central purpose is to symbolically drive away evil spirits or misfortunes associated with death, thereby cleansing the home and the community.
The presence of the cattle—especially bulls—signifies that the departed was a highly respected, courageous, and influential figure.
Mr. Musyoka, the former Vice President, led his delegation—which included Kitui Senator Enock Wambua and several governors and Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Ukambani region—into the compound armed with a shield and spear, underscoring the sincerity and traditional significance of the tribute.
Raila Odinga was laid to rest on October 19 following a state funeral attended by dignitaries from across Kenya and the world, and tributes from Kenya’s political divide have continued since.
