The Odinga family has once again been thrown into mourning following the death of Beryl Achieng Odinga, the youngest sister of the late former Prime Minister and long-serving opposition leader Raila Amolo Odinga. Beryl passed away on Tuesday at Nairobi Hospital, her family confirmed.
The announcement was made by Raila’s elder sister, Ruth Odinga, who described the loss as sudden and deeply painful. “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden demise of Beryl Achieng Odinga, daughter of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Mary Ajuma,” she said. Ruth did not disclose the cause of death.
Family sources indicate that Beryl had been in and out of hospital in recent months, and that efforts to restore her health had been ongoing.
Distinguished Career in Public Service
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Beryl, who completed her A-Levels in December 1972, was a trained teacher and later pursued studies in law, earning recognition as both an educationist and legal practitioner. Her professional journey saw her break barriers regionally and locally.
She served in Zimbabwe for several years, where she made history as the first Black Town Clerk of Mutare, the country’s third-largest city. She later became Company Secretary at the Housing Corporation of Zimbabwe before returning to Kenya.
In 2020, she was appointed to the board of the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC), where she served as Board Chairperson, contributing significantly to reforms within the agency.
Family and Background
Beryl was the daughter of Kenya’s independence hero and first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and his first wife Mama Mary Ajuma. She was a sister to Raila Odinga, East African Legislative Assembly MP Oburu Oginga, and other members of the expansive Odinga lineage.
She is remembered as one of the family members who maintained a relatively private life despite her prominent background. She had three children: Ami Auma, Chizi, and Taurai. She married Otieno Ambala in 1974; he passed away in 1985.
A Double Tragedy for the Odinga Family
Her death comes barely a month after the passing of her brother, Raila Odinga, intensifying the grief within one of Kenya’s most influential political families.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in the coming days as condolences continue to pour in from leaders and citizens across the country.
