A major social media conversation is taking place in Kenya involving the family of the country’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who passed away recently at the age of 80.
It centres on two things – Odinga’s son, Raila Junior, taking up his father’s role in a special ceremony, and, how he is being mocked by some Kenyans, prompting widespread condemnation.
Let’s start with the official installation of Raila Junior as his father’s successor.
In a poignant ceremony steeped in Kenya’s Luo tradition, Raila Junior was officially unveiled as the new head of one of the country’s most prominent and influential families.
The succession rite, known locally as ‘’liedo’’, which means ‘’shaving’’, is a cornerstone of ethnic Luo custom, where the eldest son takes up the role of the head of the family to ensure continuity after the passing of the patriarch.
Raila Junior is currently Odinga’s oldest son following the demise of his elder brother Fidel Odinga in 2015.
The ‘’shaving’’ ceremony is traditionally held near a river for cleansing. But it has evolved, with many Luo families living far from natural rivers and streams preferring to perform the rite at home, while still maintaining its symbolism.
The eldest woman in the family, usually a grandmother, makes three symbolic cuts before the full shaving.
That’s exactly what the Odinga family has done. The event took place at their Opoda Farm in Bondo on Thursday, October 23, three days after Raila Odinga’s burial.
However, while the heir's spouse and children are also traditionally shaved, some reports indicated that Raila Junior's wife had some reservations about participating.
Following the shaving, Raila Junior was handed a spear and a shield. He then accepted his new responsibilities. This act officially empowers him to speak on behalf of the family and defend its interests. But it doesn’t mean he inherits his father’s national political role.
For the Luo community, the rituals are vital. They believe death is not an end but a transition into the ancestral world.
However, this highly respected rite for Raila Junior comes as he faces a wave of online mockery targeting his appearance. He has lived openly with Acoustic Neuroma, a non-cancerous brain tumour that presses on the facial nerve, causing paralysis.
The widely condemned ridicule saw some content creators mimicking his speech and expressions.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura condemned the mockery as ‘’degrading’’ and ‘’discriminatory’’, urging social media users to refrain.
