At the closing ceremony of the fourth Piny Luo Festival in Siaya County, Kenya, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was crowned as a Luo elder. This special honor took place at the Got Ramogi Hill shrines, where Museveni was crowned alongside Kenya’s President William Ruto and former Kenyan Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga. The ceremony was led by the Luo cultural leader, Ker Odungi Randa. The three leaders were presented with traditional symbols of leadership, including a crown, an elder’s cloth, a shield and spear for protection, and a whisk to wish peace upon the people.
Following the ceremony, the newly crowned elders, along with other distinguished guests including Siaya County Governor James Orengo, toured the Jaramogi Oginga Mausoleum and four traditional Luo huts, each symbolizing one of the four sons of the Luo people.
In his remarks, President Museveni expressed deep gratitude for the honor, marking the fourth time he had been recognized by the Luo community. He previously received similar recognition from the Luo communities in Uganda, including the Alur, Acholi, and Lango. “I thank the Luos for making me an elder in their community. This is an honor for Uganda,” he said. Museveni highlighted that the Piny Luo Festival, which celebrates shared heritage, culture, and traditions, embodies East African unity and could pave the way for a regional political federation. He emphasized that achieving regional prosperity and security could only be realized through the integration of East Africa.
Museveni praised past leaders who supported East African integration, including Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Daniel Moi of Kenya, and Uganda’s Milton Obote. He remarked that although African states achieved independence, integration remained neglected, hindering prosperity and strategic security. “The future of East Africa depends on political federation,” he asserted.
Additionally, Museveni presented four plaques to Luo cultural leaders, featuring a publication that documented the historic 1963 meeting in Nairobi, where East African leaders, including Jomo Kenyatta, Julius Nyerere, and Milton Obote, declared plans to form a regional federation.
During the event, President Museveni also expressed his support for Raila Odinga’s candidacy for the African Union Chairmanship. He emphasized the importance of East African leaders playing a stronger role in achieving regional unity and success. “We are supporting Raila Odinga for the African Union chairmanship, but the real work begins with the governments and people of East Africa,” Museveni said.
President William Ruto thanked President Museveni for attending the festival on short notice and praised his commitment to East African unity. “You showed great friendship by traveling over 200 km by road to join us here,” Ruto remarked, emphasizing that the Piny Luo Festival celebrated a shared cultural heritage and the importance of overcoming artificial borders to foster greater regional cooperation.
Ruto also expressed his support for Raila Odinga’s candidacy for the AU chairmanship, noting that the unity demonstrated at the festival reflected the broader goals for East Africa’s future.
In addition to the cultural celebrations, Ruto announced the opening of the Lamogi campus of Nyang’oma Technical Training College, built at a cost of Ksh 400 million, which will begin admitting students in January. The college’s opening was marked with a plaque acknowledging President Museveni’s presence at the event.
Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga echoed the sentiment that colonial borders have hindered East African prosperity and advocated for the removal of barriers to trade and movement across the region. “Africa trades more with the rest of the world than with itself. We must open our borders for the benefit of all,” Odinga stated.
Siaya County Governor James Orengo expressed hope that the festival could spark a larger movement toward regional integration, suggesting that Kenya and Uganda begin by allowing free movement between their borders, which could serve as the first step toward a full East African federation.
The Piny Luo Festival, which began on December 31, 2024, and concluded with the crowning ceremony, focused on unity, peace, and reconciliation among various Luo communities. The event attracted groups from across East Africa, including Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and beyond.
Later in the day, Presidents Museveni and Ruto officially opened the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Stadium in Siaya County. The stadium, which boasts a seating capacity of 20,000, features modern facilities such as an eight-lane athletics track and floodlights, poised to transform the region’s sports scene. Following the opening, a friendly match between Kenya’s Gor Mahia FC and Uganda’s Kitara FC took place, with Gor Mahia winning 9-8 on penalties. President Museveni congratulated both teams and called for wealth creation in East Africa through sectors like agriculture, ICT, services, and manufacturing.
The event also included the display of traditional Luo attire, food, dances, and folklore, as well as prayers to honor the ancestors whose values and unity shaped Luo identity.
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