In a deeply moving display of solidarity and fandom more than a hundred supporters of Arsenal F.C. gathered this morning at Kang’o ka Jaramogi, the burial site of the late Raila Odinga in Bondo Siaya County to pay homage to a man the fan-group described as “one of us.” According to a statement from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Odinga was not only a towering figure in Kenyan politics but a lifelong Gunner and proud member of Arsenal Football Club.
Draped in the club’s unmistakable red and white, the fans sang the iconic anthem “North London Forever,” laid flowers and Arsenal scarves at the graveside, and recited chants in honour of Odinga’s enduring legacy both on and off the pitch.
A Fan Pilgrimage with Deep Meaning
The gathering this morning was more than a symbolic gesture: for many of the travelling Gooners, it was a pilgrimage of respect, identity and shared passion.
“Raila loved football,” said George Ochieng, an Arsenal supporter who travelled from Kisumu. “He loved Arsenal. He embodied the club’s motto Victoria Concordia Crescit (Victory through Harmony). Coming here is our way of saying farewell to a true Gunner.”
One Arsenal fan, identifying himself as “Peter from Nakuru,” described the moment when the group laid a wreath and placed an Arsenal flag on the grave: “It felt like we were laying down drums, scarves, voices – as if raila’s Arsenal family was saying: we are with you.”
According to observers, more than 100 supporters made the journey starting early Sunday morning, converging in Bondo ahead of midday. The numbers reflect a growing trend of sport-fans aligning themselves with personalities whose passion for a team bridges global geographies.
Why the Homage Matters
This tribute holds multiple layers of significance:
- Sporting identity as a unifier: Odinga’s support for Arsenal gave fans across Kenya a shared cultural token. His identity as a “Gunner” transcended politics and geography, making him a familiar figure in living rooms, pubs, and football forums.
- Memory and legacy: Odinga passed away recently, and the graveside gathering amplifies how his life is being memorialised not only as a political leader but as a human being who loved football with the same zeal as he pursued political change.
- Global fandom, local roots: The event underscores how an English Premier League club can resonate deeply in Kenya; and conversely how local Kenyan identity can be intertwined with global sporting culture.
- Political culture meets popular culture: While the occasion is not explicitly political, the setting is steeped in political history – Kang’o ka Jaramogi is meaningful in the Luo community and Kenyan politics. The joining of football fans at this site offers a moment of cross-cutting identity.
The Scene in Bondo
From the earliest hours, the site at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo was transformed: red-and-white scarves fluttered amid traditional funeral wreaths; fans posed for group photos in Arsenal shirts; the echo of “Go Gunners!” mixed with respectful silence.
Among the attendees, there were fans from Kisumu, Nakuru, Nairobi and Eldoret coming together under a single banner of fandom. One of the organizers noted that the trip was financed by small contributions: bus hires, shared rides, and pooled funds for the wreaths.
At precisely 10 a.m., the group paused at the foot of the grave, sang the “North London Forever” anthem and then laid scarves and bouquets. One fan noted: “When the anthem rose a breeze seemed to pick up – it felt like he was here with us.”
After the ceremony, some fans sat quietly under the shade of trees, sharing anecdotes of Odinga’s support for Arsenal – including a reported visit to the Emirates Stadium during a previous club outing.
Reactions & Reflections
The ODM issued a statement recognising the fans’ visit:
“Arsenal fans from across the country were this morning at Kang’o ka Jaramogi to pay homage to their fellow Gunner, the late Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga. The late Odinga was a paid-up member of Arsenal FC and was an ardent supporter and fan of the team.”
For many in the football community, Odinga’s alignment with Arsenal was a humanising element amid the often heavy world of politics. “He could talk tactics, results and transfers just like any supporter,” one fan recalled.
Locally in Siaya County, residents welcomed the visitors. “It is good to see young people honouring someone who loved this county and loved football,” remarked a community elder in Bondo. “Whether or not you share his politics, you cannot ignore his humanity and his love for the game.”
Beyond the Ceremony: What It Means for Football Culture
This event is indicative of wider shifts in how sport, memory and identity interlace in Kenya and beyond:
- Fan networks as social movements Global clubs like Arsenal have loyal followings in Kenya. These communities often become platforms for local social gatherings, travel, regional solidarity, and now memorialisation.
- Football as tribute platform The act of paying homage at a gravesite wearing club gear, singing anthems, signals that football identity has deep emotional weight beyond match day.
- The blending of politics and sport While the gathering was not explicitly political, the juncture of a political giant’s memorial and sport-fan tribute offers insight into how Kenyan society intertwines public memory with popular culture.
- Youth engagement and shared history Younger fans may never have seen Odinga in his political prime, but the migration of his legacy into the world of football gives them a new way to connect with history and identity.
- Place-making through fandom Kang’o ka Jaramogi, already a place of significance, was transformed today into a pilgrimage site not just for political respect but for sporting belonging.
Voice of the Fans: Stories from the Ground
- Mary Atieno Nairobi: “I joined the bus from Nairobi; I wanted to say thank-you to Raila for being ‘one of us’. When I don the Arsenal jersey, I connect to many people around the world. But today, at Bondo, it felt like we connected to our roots too.”
- David Ocholla Eldoret: “Some said, why go all the way to Siaya? But when we sang ‘We are the Arsenal, we’re wise and we’re strong’, I looked at the gravesite and thought: this is more than sport. It’s legacy.”
- Joel Mwangi Kisumu: “During tough political seasons, he’d talk about Arsenal’s form. It showed how deeply human and passionate he was. So we said: let’s come here and pay tribute.”
Political & Cultural Significance
While this gathering is unambiguously a football-fan tribute, it cannot be separated from the cultural and political tapestry of Kenya:
- Bondo’s symbolic weight: Kang’o ka Jaramogi is historically significant for the Odinga family and Luo community. By choosing this site, fans are anchoring their tribute in local identity and national memory.
- Football’s soft diplomacy: Globally, football clubs are soft power networks. Here in Kenya Arsenal’s presence is not foreign it is woven into everyday life, and this event underscores that dynamic.
- National unity through sport: In a country often divided along ethnic and political lines, a gathering of diverse fans united by one club and one tribute offers a hopeful image: the possibility of unity through shared passion.
- Memory beyond politics: Odinga’s death sparked national mourning, but today’s event shows that the way leaders are remembered can transcend their political offices and enter cultural spheres football included.
What’s Next for the Fans and Legacy
As the day winds down at Bondo, several reflections emerge:
- Arsenal fans in Kenya are discussing how to mark the legacy of Odinga in their club activities perhaps dedicating a matchday in his honour, creating a fan-club banner, or contributing to youth football in Siaya.
- The football community at large locally and abroad may take this as inspiration for how sport-fans can engage meaningfully with public memory.
- For the Odinga family and Siaya County, the event brings increased visibility and a new dimension to the site at Kang’o ka Jaramogi: from a political mausoleum to also a place of fan pilgrimage.
- Media and analysts are noting how the merging of football, culture and commemoration plays into Kenya’s broader social narratives of identity, belonging and global connection.
What began as a planned tribute by a dedicated group of Arsenal enthusiasts evolved into a moving intersection of sport, memory and identity. On this Sunday morning at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo, the red and white scarves fluttered gently in the wind, the anthem rose, and for a few minutes, the lines between football fandom, cultural tribute and national remembrance blurred.
In paying homage to Raila Odinga, these fans reaffirmed that football is more than a game; it is community, memory, passion and a bridge across counties, across continents across generations.
As the chant ended and the bus-horns sounded, one fan simply said: “Once a Gunner, always a Gunner and today we said goodbye to a brother.”
