Thousands of mourners gathered at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University in Bondo to pay their final respects to Raila Amolo Odinga, but it was his elder brother, Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, who delivered one of the most touching moments of the day.
During the ceremony on Sunday, October 19, 2025, Oburu opened up about the two small but noticeable marks on Raila’s face, revealing stories from their childhood that left the crowd emotional.
“We grew up together, and if you look closely, he had a mark on his face and another on his mouth,” Oburu said, his voice quivering with emotion.
He recounted the playful days they spent in Kisumu, climbing mango trees and running through the fields near where Ofafa Memorial now stands.
“The mark on his mouth came from a fall while we were playing and jumping over mango trees,” Oburu shared. “I carried him home on my back, and people laughed at me for crying because my brother was hurt.”
The story behind the second mark, located on Raila’s head, occurred years later in Germany. “That one came from an accident while he was studying abroad,” Oburu said.
“Raila was always brave — he never let pain slow him down.”
Through these personal anecdotes, Oburu painted a portrait of Raila not just as a political icon, but as a brother, son, and man of courage, whose resilience and love for his people were evident from a young age.
For a fleeting moment, the mourners saw beyond the public figure — they glimpsed Baba, the playful boy from Kisumu whose character would go on to shape Kenya’s destiny.
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