Beryl Odinga, the late sister of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, was so devastated by his death that she felt her own life had lost its meaning, her daughter has revealed. The poignant disclosure lays bare the profound bond the two siblings shared and the deep void left in the Odinga family following a tragic double loss.

Speaking at her mother's memorial service, Chizi Ambala told mourners that Beryl never recovered from the death of her elder brother. “When Baba passed, the first words out of my mom's mouth were: 'There is nothing for me on this earth anymore,'” Ambala recounted. This raw admission, she explained, was a testament to the deep devotion that defined their relationship throughout their lives.

A Bond Forged in Life and Politics

The relationship between Raila and his younger sister was exceptionally close. Ambala shared intimate family stories of how a young, bachelor Raila living in Nairobi West would insist on giving his bed to his sister while he slept on the floor. This protective instinct continued throughout their lives, with Raila providing unwavering support, especially after Beryl's marriage ended. Their shared history extended beyond Kenya's borders to Zimbabwe, a country that became a second home and a place of refuge for them. “It was our home, his escape, and our history,” Ambala noted.

Beryl Achieng Odinga passed away on November 25, 2025, while undergoing treatment at a Nairobi hospital, just weeks after her brother Raila was laid to rest on October 19, 2025. The former Prime Minister died from a cardiac arrest in Kerala, India, at the age of 80. The successive losses have been described by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as a biblical “trial of Job” for the family.

A Legacy of Service

Though she lived a quieter life than her famous brother, Beryl Odinga was a trailblazer in her own right. Her distinguished career included:

• Making history as the first black Town Clerk of Mutare, Zimbabwe's third-largest city.
• Serving as Company Secretary at the Housing Corporation of Zimbabwe.
• Holding appointments in Kenya as chairperson of Athi Water and the Kenya Railway Pension Scheme.

The Odinga family has confirmed that Beryl will be laid to rest at the family's ancestral home in Kang'o Ka Jaramogi, Bondo, on Saturday, December 6, 2025. As the family prepares for a second farewell in as many months, Ambala’s eulogy for her mother serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of losing a loved one, even one who lived a grand public life. “You often cannot tell how close two people really were until one of them is no longer here,” she said.