Azimio leader Raila Odinga is in Kisumu Nyahera for the memorial celebrations to honour the late Luo Council of Elders Chairman Ker Wilis Otondi.
Raila was accompanied by Kisumu deputy govenor Mathews Owili and other luo councils of elders, MPs Rosa Buyu (Kisumu West), Joshua Oron (Kisumu Central ) and Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja) at the late Ker's home.
Otondi died on February 17 and was buried on March 4, 2023, at his Nyahera home.
Late last month, Raila met various elders in Kisumu where they agreed that the new Elders Council chairman will be elected this month after paying their last respect to the late Ker Otondi in accordance with the Luo traditions.
The exercise, which is part of the elders’ rituals, will then set the stage for the election of the new leader.
Raila said this when he met elders for the first time since Otondi's burial to brainstorm on how to strengthen the movement and eventually elect their new chairman.
He said the election is going to be a general assembly known as 'Wii Pinje' which will bring in people from all the Luo Nyanza sub counties.
Raila noted that Ker is an important institution in Luo society.
He said the council has representatives dealing with issues like marriage, death and burial traditions, domestic violence and general life issues.
"This institution is certainly old and very respected in our society. People get surprised when the media give prominence to pretenders to the throne of the council," he said.
The process of electing the new Ker, had taken longer than anticipated following the death of the Otondi and Mama Grace Onyango who was a member of the council.