Just weeks after burying its patriarch, the Odinga family is in mourning again following the death of Beryl Achieng Odinga, 78, the trailblazing younger sister of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Her passing on Tuesday after a long illness has plunged the family into a new wave of grief, a situation Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna likened to a biblical trial of faith.

This double tragedy pierces the heart of a family that has been a pillar of Kenyan politics for generations. Beryl’s death on November 25, 2025, comes just over five weeks after Raila Odinga was laid to rest on October 19, 2025, creating what many have called an immense void in the nation's public life.

Speaking at a memorial service, Senator Sifuna, who also serves as ODM party Secretary-General, captured the somber mood. "I was reminded of the book of Job," Sifuna noted, reflecting on the family's compounded losses. He emphasized that despite the immense hardship, their faith remains a cornerstone. "Even when you don't understand the why, just remember that God is still in control," he added.

A Life of Quiet Distinction

Though born into Kenya’s most famous political family, Beryl Odinga forged her own path away from the political limelight. A trained teacher and lawyer, she built a distinguished career in public service, both in Kenya and abroad.

Her journey was marked by resilience. After fleeing an abusive marriage in the 1980s, she sought asylum in Zimbabwe, where she shattered barriers. There, she made history as the first black Town Clerk of Mutare, Zimbabwe's third-largest city, playing a key role in its post-independence urban development. She later served as Company Secretary of the Housing Corporation of Zimbabwe.

Upon her return to Kenya, she continued her public service, most recently as the Chairperson of the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC), appointed in 2020.

A Nation Mourns Anew

The news of Beryl's passing drew condolences from across the political spectrum, with leaders acknowledging the heavy emotional toll on the family. Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga stated the loss, “especially so soon after the departure of Rt Hon Raila Odinga, weighs heavily on our hearts.”

The 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. In a statement, the family expressed profound sadness but also gratitude for her life. "While we are deeply saddened by her demise and the immense void left in our lives, we take solace in the belief that she is safe in the Lord's arms."

As the Odingas prepare for another farewell, the nation watches on, sharing in the sorrow of a family that has endured an unimaginable season of loss. The quiet strength that defined Beryl Odinga's life is now the very quality her family must summon to navigate the difficult days ahead.