President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Saturday, April 12, 2025, joined hundreds of mourners in Rarieda, Siaya County, for the burial of George Oduor, Raila’s long-serving bodyguard and trusted aide.
The emotionally charged ceremony drew national attention and brought together a host of political leaders across the divide, including Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, Governors James Orengo (Siaya), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), and several Members of Parliament.
Oduor, fondly known as ‘FBI’ among his peers, passed away on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, while undergoing treatment at a city hospital.
Beginning his career as a security detail for Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Oduor later transitioned to serve Raila Odinga after the elder Odinga’s death.
For more than 30 years, he stood by Raila’s side—through rallies, elections, and turbulent political seasons—earning a reputation as a loyal and dependable protector.
Oduor’s body was transported to Ndori on Friday, April 11, 2025, ahead of his final send-off.
Oduor’s legacy
In heartfelt tributes ahead of the burial, the Odinga family hailed Oduor for the integral role he played in Raila’s life.
The family remembered Oduor not just as a bodyguard, but as a confidant, a friend, and a man whose loyalty and sacrifice shaped their journey through Kenya’s political terrain.
Raila described Oduor as a confidant and friend, saying his death had left a void that could never be filled.
“It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that I mourn the passing of my trusted bodyguard, confidant, and friend, George Oduor. I will miss George, and I am sorry to the myriad friends who miss him already,” Raila posted on his X account on April 2, 2025.
Raila hailed Oduor’s courage during pivotal political moments, including the 2007 post-election crisis and the 2023 anti-government protests, where he played critical roles in shielding the former PM.
“George Oduor’s name will be etched in the annals of our shared history as a man who gave his all for a cause greater than himself,” Raila said.
In her tribute, Mama Ida Odinga echoed Raila’s sentiments, describing Oduor as a deeply trusted member of their inner circle.
“Oduor was so close to us; he was part of our extended family… His death just doesn’t feel normal,” she said.
Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, Raila’s elder brother, also paid tribute to Oduor’s lasting impact on the family and the nation.
“He was not just trusted with the life of a political giant, but with the trust of a family who came to see him as one of their own,” Raila Odinga’s brother and Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga said.