Tears flowed, memories spilled, and politics crept in as Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga stood before mourners in Awasi on Friday to say goodbye to Mayienga FM presenter Festus Amimo.
It was not just a burial. It was an emotional farewell, a political moment, and a reminder of how deeply the late radio star was woven into power, loyalty, and personal loss.
“With a heavy heart, I joined mourners today,” Ruth Odinga said, her words heavy with grief as the coffin of the famed broadcaster was lowered into the ground.
Festus Amimo was not just a radio voice. To listeners, he was the deep baritone that ruled the airwaves on Gari Mokinyi. To politicians, he was the bridge. To Ruth Odinga, he was family.
“Festus was there from the very beginning,” she said. “He connected my office to the media when it mattered most.”
The mood shifted when she recalled their final conversations. While in India with her brother, ODM leader Raila Odinga, Festus kept calling. Checking in. Asking questions. Doing what journalists do best.
“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.”
It was Festus who interviewed her days after the family loss. The same voice that comforted the public had comforted her.
As grief hung in the air, Ruth turned to the living. And her message was sharp.
“2025 has taken a heavy toll,” she said. “But those still alive must soldier on.”
Then came the politics. Clear. Firm. Unapologetic.
“ODM is not just a party. It is a movement,” she declared. “You are either with us or you are not.”
She warned against mixed loyalties and revealed plans to crisscross the country after the festive season to strengthen ODM’s grip.
“We are not content with just two Cabinet slots,” she said. “We want more ministers, more PSs, and a real seat at the table.”
As the sun set over Awasi, Festus Amimo was laid to rest. But his voice, his influence, and the political storm stirred at his burial were anything but buried.
“Rest well, Wuod Awasi,” Ruth said.
And as mourners walked away, one thing was clear: this farewell had ignited more than memories—it had reignited the battle lines.