A Second Profound Loss

NAIROBI – The Odinga family, a central pillar of Kenyan political life for generations, has been cast into mourning once again following the death of Beryl Achieng Odinga. Ms. Odinga, the youngest sister of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, passed away on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at a hospital in Nairobi after a prolonged illness, according to multiple family sources and official statements. Her death at the age of 78 comes just over five weeks after the nation buried her brother, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, on October 19, 2025, compounding the family's grief.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the family confirmed the news through Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga. “It is with a heavy heart, but accepting the will of God, that we announce the sudden passing of Beryl Achieng Odinga,” the statement read. “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.” Family members, including Ruth Odinga and Winnie Odinga, were present at the Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi where her body was received.

A Life of Public Service Beyond Politics

Born into the family of Kenya’s first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Mama Mary Ajuma Oginga, Beryl Achieng charted a distinct path focused on public administration rather than elective politics. Despite her family's deep political immersion, she maintained a relatively private profile. A trained teacher and lawyer, Ms. Odinga's career was marked by significant achievements both in Kenya and abroad.

In the 1980s, after fleeing an abusive marriage, she was granted asylum in Zimbabwe where she built a formidable career. She made history as the first Black Town Clerk of Mutare, Zimbabwe's third-largest city. Her work in Zimbabwe also included serving as Company Secretary of the Housing Corporation of Zimbabwe and contributing to urban planning policy for Chitungwiza Town. Upon her return to Kenya, she continued in public service, and in January 2020, she was appointed Chairperson of the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC).

Family and National Mourning

Beryl Odinga was a mother to Ami Auma, Chizi, and Taure. The family's statement described her as a “devoted mother and a strong pillar.” She was a sister to Senator Oburu Oginga, the late Raila Odinga, Akinyi Wenwa, and Ruth Odinga, among others from the larger family of the late Jaramogi. Her passing represents the loss of another member of a generation that was witness to and participant in Kenya's entire post-independence history.

The death adds another somber chapter to the recent history of the Odinga family, whose contributions and sacrifices have profoundly shaped Kenya's democratic journey. As the nation processes this news, the focus remains on a family that has, for the second time in as many months, lost one of its core members. Tributes from national leaders are expected as the country reflects on the life of a woman who, while shunning the political spotlight, dedicated her career to public service and broke barriers far from home.