By AGWANDA SAYE: Preparations are underway for the 6th edition of the annual Piny Luo Festival, scheduled to take place in Kisumu County from December 14 to 16, 2026.

Launching the event at the Kisumu Museum, Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o announced that Deputy Governor Mathew Owili will chair the festival’s Technical Committee.

The committee is tasked with developing an appropriate theme that reflects the aspirations and current realities of the community, coordinating preparations, mobilizing resources, and ensuring the smooth execution of the three-day cultural extravaganza.

“The committee will bring together representatives from the four Luo-Nyanza counties, the Luo Council of Elders, and key regional stakeholders,” Nyong’o stated.

The annual celebration of Luo heritage was previously hosted in Migori and Siaya counties.

Cultural continuity

Highlighting the global presence of the community, Governor Nyong’o emphasized that culture serves as the enduring thread connecting Luo people worldwide.

He invoked traditional Luo proverbs to emphasize the significance of ancestral knowledge, “Rieko jodongo ok duon; sudo e tieng’ ka tieng’ meaning ‘the wisdom of elders never dries as it is passed from one generation to the next. Equally profound is the timeless saying, ‘Ruu rwath e meo rwath,’ for every journey begins by following the path laid before us.”

Nyong’o added that the 2026 festival comes at a pivotal time, offering the community a chance to strengthen economic prospects, celebrate identity, and chart a clear path forward.

Raila Odinga’s cultural vision

The vision behind the Piny Luo Festival was originally conceived by late former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. The initiative stems from the core belief that a community rooted in its history and ancestral wisdom is best equipped to build its future.

The Governor extended an invitation to the global community,“We invite all Luo people, friends of the Luo community, our development partners, and the wider public to join us in Kisumu this December as we celebrate our heritage and shape our shared future.”

The launch event was attended by high-profile leaders and officials, including Luo Council of Elders Chairman Odungi Randa, Deputy Governor Dr Mathew Owili, and Kisumu County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) Beatrice Odongo and Kenneth Onyango.