Kenya, 27 October 2025 - In an emotional gathering that transcended both politics and sport, hundreds of Arsenal Football Club supporters from across Kenya converged at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo to honour the late Raila Amolo Odinga, a statesman whose love for The Gunners was as fierce as his passion for justice and unity.
The memorial, held at Odinga’s ancestral home, transformed the quiet Siaya countryside into a festival of red and white.
From Nairobi to Kisumu, Mombasa to Eldoret, Arsenal fans arrived in droves — proudly wearing the club’s iconic colours, waving scarves, and chanting songs that once brought a smile to the man they fondly called 'Baba'.
On Sunday, Arsenal thumped Crystal Palace 1-0.
For decades, Odinga was not just a fan. He was a student of the game — analytical, hopeful, and unshaken in loyalty.
Whether Arsenal triumphed with the fluid artistry of Arsene Wenger’s era or endured the heartbreak of narrow defeats, Odinga remained steadfast. His passion for football mirrored his political journey — full of resilience, patience, and belief in better days ahead.
Led by Silas Odhiambo, chairperson of the Kenya Arsenal Supporters Association, the fans began the day with a symbolic march to Odinga’s tomb.
There, beneath the calm Bondo sky, they laid wreaths, club scarves, and memorabilia beside his resting place. As voices rose in unison to the anthem “North London Forever,”the moment carried both sorrow and celebration — the farewell of teammates to their captain.
“Raila Odinga wasn’t just an Arsenal fan,” Odhiambo said.
“He embodied what it means to be a Gunner — committed through the highs and the lows, believing even when others had given up. We came here to say thank you to one of our own.”
The emotional tribute continued at the Odinga family home, where Mama Ida Odinga and Raila Odinga Junior warmly welcomed the supporters. The two stood side by side on the verandah, watching as the crowd chanted “Come on You Gunners! and waved flags in unison.
Mama Ida, visibly moved, thanked the fans for their show of solidarity.
“Raila loved Arsenal deeply,” she said.
“Match days were sacred in this home. Whether they won or lost, he followed every game. Seeing all of you here today shows just how far his love and spirit reached.”
Raila Junior echoed the sentiment, recalling how football was one of his father’s few escapes from the weight of leadership.
“When Arsenal played, he was just another fan — loud, hopeful, and full of energy. He believed football could unite people just as much as politics could.”
As the afternoon sun dipped behind the acacia trees, the fans joined hands in a final chant of “North London Forever” before dispersing.
The echoes lingered, carried by the Bondo wind — a fitting farewell to a man whose heart beat in rhythm with the Gunners.
Odinga may have left the field of life, but his Arsenal spirit will play on forever.
