Raila's legacy lives on as county puts final touches on Luo festival

President William Ruto, his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni and the late Raila Odinga at the 4th edition of Piny Luo cultural festival in Bondo, Siaya county.[FILE,Standard]

Luo Nyanza is bracing for a historic moment as Migori prepares to host the fifth edition of the Piny Luo Festival, in an event where rich culture is expected to meet peace and cohesion across East and Central Africa.

For the first time since its inauguration, the region will be marking the event without its patron and brainchild, Raila Odinga. His thoughts and visions for a united community had shaped the themes of past events.

In his final days, the veteran opposition leader had called for what he described as a cultural paradigm shift among the Luo, challenging the community to re-examine long-held traditions in the face of changing social and economic realities.

Raila specifically urged the Luo to consider abolishing the practice of “Goyo Dala”, a rite of passage where a man establishes his own homestead upon maturity. While acknowledging its deep cultural roots, he argued that the practice had led to the fragmentation of family land and erosion of communal cohesion.

He instead rooted for integrated housing models with families having access to shared amenities such as playgrounds, shops and clean water within common compounds. This was among the changes he was advocating for ahead of this year’s celebrations set to take place from Monday.

The three-day cultural gathering will also push boundaries, with organisers seeking to use cultural democracy as a tool to strengthen peace, cohesion and shared prosperity across East and Central Africa, a region grappling with conflicts.

Running under the theme “Cultural Diplomacy: The Future of the Luo Nation, Her Neighbours and Their Shared Prosperity,” this year’s festival is seen as a moment for the community to take collective ownership of its cultural future and expand the festival’s mission into something regional and continental.

The event is expected to draw unprecedented participation from across East and Central Africa. Delegations from Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic are set to join tens of thousands of local and diaspora Luo communities.

“The festival brings all Luos globally together. The Luos in diaspora in any nation outside Kenya and others who may not be in Africa are coming home. We are expecting a large number of guests,” said Migori Governor Dr Ochillo Ayacko, speaking ahead of the event.

Peace diplomacy

Organisers estimate more than 10,000 local and international attendees will converge in the county, including President William Ruto, who is expected to attend the closing ceremony on December 17, while several cabinet secretaries, governors from neighbouring counties, diplomats and high-ranking professionals are among the invited dignitaries.

ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga and Dr Ida Odinga are also expected, underscoring the cultural and political weight the event carries.

While Piny Luo has traditionally been a celebration of identity headlined by music, food, folklore, sports and traditional regalia, this year’s edition is ambitiously seeking to transform the festival into an instrument of peace diplomacy.

Ayacko said the festival has evolved into a unifying platform where culture becomes both a mirror and a bridge, reflecting identity while drawing fractured societies closer.

“Culture creates understanding, harmony and a love for one another. Our expectation is that this kind of celebration will bring our people closer,” Ayacko said.

Across East and Central Africa, where many Luo communities live, cycles of conflict have often deepened ethnic divisions, displaced families and disrupted economic lifelines. Cultural democracy, the organisers argue, offers a peaceful and people-centred route to healing.

Such gatherings, Ayacko added, allow communities to revisit their shared histories and values, providing a platform where differences fade and relationships deepen.

“This is an opportunity for young and old to look at where we have been, where we are, and where we are going as a society,” Ayacko said.

For countries like South Sudan and parts of Eastern DRC, where some Luo-speaking communities have experienced years of violence, the festival becomes a rare space for dialogue through song, storytelling and shared traditions.

Ahead of the grand celebrations, Migori County hosted the Migori Cultural Extravaganza, a two-day showcase that lit up the region from December 10 to 11. The event brought together the county’s diverse communities in a celebration of identity and coexistence, an early signal of the harmony the Piny Luo Festival aims to nurture.

Traditional showcases were held at Makuyu Primary School and Tarang’anya, where cultural troupes from the Luhya, Kuria, Kisii, Somali and Suba communities performed. The displays highlighted the rich cultures that define Migori’s cosmopolitan character and set the tone for a festival rooted in unity at home and across borders.

Beyond peace-building, the festival will also have significant economic implications. Migori County anticipates a major boost to local livelihoods as thousands of visitors arrive. Traders, hoteliers, tour operators, transport providers and artisans are expected to benefit from the influx.

Exhibitions will showcase traditional crafts, textile work, agri-products and modern innovations by Luo professionals from Kenya and the diaspora. Performances ranging from dodo and ohangla to contemporary live acts will be staged throughout the week.

Food, which is a central symbol of Luo hospitality, will also take centre stage, with visitors invited to sample everything from rech (fish) and apoth (local vegetables) to millet delicacies and other modern culinary twists by local chefs.

With Migori becoming a regional destination for the week, security preparations have been stepped up. Ayacko said the county is working closely with national security agencies to ensure a safe environment for the thousands expected to attend.

“Our partnership with the national government is top-notch. We do not expect any hitch,” he said. The governor noted that favourable weather, stable food supplies and the festive mood around December position Migori as an ideal host.

“People should prepare to eat and dance with us, as we eat and dance with our guests,” said Ayacko.

Hoteliers are expecting more than 5,000 guests and are confident the county’s accommodation capacity will meet the demand.

Addressing journalists in Migori town after a meeting with Governor Ochilo Ayacko and his administration on festival preparations, the business community expressed readiness for the celebration of Luo heritage.

Peter Orimbo, Chairman of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Migori Chapter, urged hospitality operators to prepare for the influx of visitors.

“Let us ensure we are ready, so guests can fully appreciate our hospitality. This promises to be a remarkable cultural festival and we are prepared,” he said.