A 22-year-old woman from Kisumu has drawn widespread attention after launching a deeply personal tribute to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, choosing to spend 72 consecutive hours hugging a white pillar at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Sports Complex.
Lavender Wesonga began the challenge on Friday, October 10, 2026, five days before the first anniversary of Raila Odinga’s death on October 15.
She described the act not as a stunt, but as a deliberate expression of grief and respect for a figure she believes shaped Kenya’s pursuit of peace.
The colour of the pillar was no accident. Wesonga explained that white symbolises peace, a principle she associates closely with Raila Odinga’s legacy and the values he championed throughout his decades in public life.
Lavender to hug post at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Sports Complex
By holding on to the pillar for 72 unbroken hours, she sought to physically embody the kind of steadfast commitment she attributes to the former Prime Minister.
The challenge was staged at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Sports Complex, a venue that carries its own historical weight in Kisumu, a city long considered a stronghold of Odinga’s political base.
Radio 47 shared footage of Wesonga at the sports complex, and the clip quickly circulated on Facebook, drawing curiosity and conversation from Kenyans online.
First anniversary of Raila Odinga’s passing
For many viewers, the sight of a young woman quietly embracing a column in tribute to a political icon was both unusual and moving.
The first anniversary of Raila Odinga’s passing is set to be marked across various parts of the country, but Wesonga’s gesture stood out for its simplicity and personal conviction.
Rather than joining a formal commemoration, she chose a solitary, physical act of remembrance rooted in symbolism.
