Siaya Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga is expected to return to Kenya by Friday, November 28, 2025, cutting short a personal holiday in Dubai following the death of his younger sister, Beryl Achieng Odinga. The family patriarch had travelled to the United Arab Emirates on Friday, November 21, for what was described by his sister, Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, as a brief three-day rest after an emotionally taxing period.

Ms. Achieng passed away on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, while receiving treatment at Nairobi West Hospital. Her death compounds the family's grief, coming just 41 days after the passing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on October 15, 2025. This double tragedy has deeply affected the family, with relatives and friends gathering at Ms. Achieng's Kileleshwa home in Nairobi and the Lee Funeral Home to offer condolences.

A Family in Mourning

The death of Ms. Achieng has been described as a heavy blow to the Odinga family. In a statement, Dr. Oburu expressed his profound pain, describing his sister as a “dependable pillar” of the family. Ruth Odinga announced the passing with “a heavy heart, but accepting the will of God,” noting the “immense void” left by her sister’s death. Family sources indicated that Ms. Achieng had been unwell for a prolonged period and had been in and out of hospitals. Her illness had also led her to seek treatment in India, at the same facility where her brother Raila had been admitted before his death.

Upon Dr. Oburu's return, the family is expected to convene to begin formal preparations for the funeral. His role as the family's spokesperson and patriarch is crucial in navigating this second period of mourning. Mourners have also been visiting the family's ancestral home of Kang'o ka Jaramogi to comfort the widows of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Betty and Susan Oginga, who have now lost two children in a short span.

A Life of Public Service

Despite being a member of one of Kenya's most prominent political families, Beryl Achieng Odinga, 78, maintained a relatively private life. She was a distinguished professional, trained as both a teacher and a lawyer after completing her 'A' Levels in December 1972. Her career was marked by significant achievements abroad and in Kenya. She made history as the first black Town Clerk of Mutare, Zimbabwe's third-largest city, after relocating there in the 1980s. She later served as the Company Secretary of the Housing Corporation of Zimbabwe.

In Kenya, Ms. Achieng continued her public service, notably as the Chairperson of the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC), a position she was appointed to in January 2020. She was the daughter of Kenya's first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and Mama Mary Ajuma Oginga. She is survived by her three children: Ami Auma, Chizi, and Taurai. Leaders from across the political spectrum, including Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, have sent messages of condolence to the family.