The Oginga cemetery in Kang'o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya county. [Photo/Nation]
The political Odinga family has faced quite a number of misfortunes, ranging from the death of its founder and former Vice President, to his grandson Fidel Odinga’s demise and its longtime inability to clinch the presidency.
Fidel and other departed members of the family are buried at the family cemetery in Oginga’s Kang’o Ka Jaramogi home in Bondo, Siaya county.
However, the family has since surrendered the destination to the Kenya National Museum for historical preservation.
The job of preparing their graves is not conducted by just anyone, but has for long been entrusted with Julius Ochieng’, who has an over 20 year experience in the undertaking job.
Ochieng’ dropped out of school at form three and ventured into casual jobs like digging trenches, sewer and underground water lines to fend for himself, before a friend introduced him into the profession in the 1990s. Apart from Fidel who is the latest known member of the family to depart, Ochieng’ led the squad that dug the grave of opposition leader Raila Odinga’s sister Margaret Akinyi Oginga in 1996.Three years later he dug Shadrack Osewe Oginga’s grave, Osewe was Jaramogi’s last born son.
In a Standard publication dated 8 January 2015, he says that of all the graves, Fidel’s was the most tricky, as it had to be given a state of the art touch judging by the youngster’s prominence in the society.
He, however, doesn’t ask for payment for his services, and it’s up to the family to decide on what to give him in gratitude.
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