In a historic ceremony, Kenyan President William Ruto and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni were installed as Luo elders during the Piny Luo cultural festival held in Siaya County on Thursday.
The three-day event, which celebrates the rich Luo culture and traditions, culminated in the honorary installation by Ker Odungi Randa, marking a significant cultural moment for both leaders.
The ceremony was filled with deep cultural symbolism as the two heads of state, both revered in East Africa, received the recognition amidst cheers from local elders and residents.
In a show of mutual respect and goodwill, President Museveni presented the Luo elders with a rare gift: a photograph taken in 1963, showing founding fathers Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Julius Nyerere, and Milton Obote, taken during the historic meeting in Nairobi that laid the groundwork for the Federation of East Africa.
“Because I have come here and I’ve been gifted, I also have a gift for you. This picture was taken on June 3, 1963. This is when Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Julius Nyerere, Milton Obote, and others met in Nairobi and declared they would form the Federation of East Africa,” Museveni remarked.
“I will give you more copies, five of them,” he added, highlighting the significance of the moment in East African history.
In his speech, Museveni also expressed his unwavering support for Raila Odinga’s candidacy for the African Union Commission Chairmanship, a move that adds weight to Odinga’s regional influence.
“We are supporting the candidature of Raila for the chairmanship of the African Union. He will help us do some mobilization and brainstorming. The real power is with us here. We are in charge of these states,” Museveni declared.
President Ruto also spoke about Odinga’s bid, stressing the importance of unity within East Africa.
“Raila Odinga is not a candidate for Kenya; he is a candidate for East Africa. Before we rolled out his candidature for the African Union, we went to President Museveni as the elder of our region. We spoke to all East African Heads of State and confirmed that we had the right candidate with the right credentials,” Ruto said.
The ceremony not only celebrated the cultural heritage of the Luo people but also highlighted the strong political and diplomatic ties between Kenya and Uganda.
As the festival draws to a close today, the installations of Ruto and Museveni as elders will be remembered as a powerful symbol of unity and cross-border cooperation in East Africa.
