Tears, shock, and raw politics collided in Awasi on Friday as Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga turned the burial of Mayienga FM presenter Festus Amimo into a moment that left mourners talking.
What began as a sombre farewell quickly shifted into a powerful political statement as Odinga broke her silence before a hushed crowd, mourning a friend while drawing hard lines within ODM.
“With a heavy heart, I joined mourners today,” Odinga said, standing near the grave of the man many knew as the booming voice of Gari Mokinyi. “Festus was not just a journalist. He was family.”
Amimo, fondly known as Wuod Awasi, was remembered as a broadcaster who commanded the airwaves and shaped public debate across Kisumu and beyond.
But behind the microphone, Odinga revealed, was a trusted ally who stood with her from the very start of her political journey.
“He was there from the beginning,” she said. “He connected my office to the media when it mattered most.”
The most emotional moment came when Odinga recalled their final phone calls. While in India with ODM leader Raila Odinga, Festus kept checking in.
“I spoke to him at 9pm the night before tragedy struck,” she said. “I told him Baba was doing well. By morning, everything had changed.”
Festus would later interview her after the family loss, a gesture she said she would never forget.
Then the tone hardened.
“2025 has been a heavy year,” Odinga told mourners. “But those of us still alive must soldier on.”
Her words quickly turned political. Clear. Direct. Unapologetic.
“ODM is not just a party. It is a movement,” she declared. “And movements do not survive half-hearted people.”
Then came the line that cut through the crowd.
“We are not content with just two Cabinet slots,” Odinga said. “We want more ministers, more principal secretaries, and a real seat at the table.”
She warned against mixed signals within the party, saying loyalty would define who moves forward and who is left behind.
After the festive season, she said, ODM leaders will traverse the country to strengthen the movement.