ODM youth leader Kasmuel McOure has disclosed that he refrained from wearing traditional attire during Raila Odinga’s burial after elders cautioned him against doing so without proper cultural preparation.
Speaking during an interview on The Oga Obinna Show, McOure said he had planned to attend the funeral in traditional regalia as a mark of respect for the former Prime Minister but was advised otherwise shortly before the event.
“I met some elders, and one lady told me we don’t just wear those things for granted,” he said. “So I decided to do regular clothes instead.”
The burial, held in Bondo, Siaya County, drew thousands of mourners following Raila’s death on October 30 in Nairobi after a short illness.
The ceremony blended modern and traditional elements, with political leaders and citizens gathering to pay tribute to the man widely regarded as the face of Kenya’s pro-democracy struggle.
McOure said his decision was based on the respect he holds for Luo customs and the advice he received from community elders.
“You don’t just participate in such cultural expressions without understanding the meaning behind them,” he explained, emphasizing that traditional attire carries deep ancestral and spiritual significance.
In many Kenyan communities, traditional regalia symbolizes honour, transition, or mourning, and its use during funerals is often governed by customary rules.
Cultural experts note that these symbols are not mere decorations but represent lineage, status, and connection to the community’s spiritual heritage.
McOure, who described Raila’s death as a “confusing and painful experience,” said he wanted to express his mourning in a way that remained authentic to him while honouring cultural sensitivities.
Raila Odinga, who served as Kenya’s Prime Minister between 2008 and 2013, was laid to rest at his rural home in a ceremony attended by regional leaders and dignitaries.
His passing marked the end of an era in Kenya’s politics, and for many supporters like McOure, the farewell to “Baba” was as much a national loss as a personal one.