In a story that has captured hearts and stirred emotions across Kenya, Vane Nyanchoka, a mother from Kisii County, gave birth to quadruplets, three boys and one girl, on November 10, 2025, at Nyanchwa Hospital. The joyous arrival came just weeks after the death of opposition leader Raila Odinga, whose passing on October 15, 2025, plunged the nation into deep mourning.
In a gesture both symbolic and heartfelt, Nyanchoka named her sons Raila, Amollo, and Odinga, and the daughter Ida, honouring the late statesman and his wife. The naming, she said, was her way of paying tribute to a man she admired for decades for his courage, endurance, and unrelenting fight for democracy in Kenya.
“Raila stood for hope and justice for the ordinary people,” Nyanchoka told local reporters. “Naming my children after him and his wife Ida is my small way of keeping that spirit alive.”
The quadruplets, born prematurely but in stable condition, have brought Nyanchoka total number of children to six, including her older twins. Doctors at Nyanchwa Hospital described the delivery as successful but challenging, requiring the assistance of multiple specialists due to the high-risk nature of the pregnancy.
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Online, Kenyans have reacted with a mix of admiration and debate. Supporters of the Odinga family praised the mother’s choice as “a moving tribute to a national icon,” while others questioned the trend of naming children after political figures.
Nonetheless, many see the births as symbolic, new life emerging from a period of grief. Political analysts noted the timing as poignant, coming less than a month after Raila Odinga’s passing.
“It’s as if life itself is reminding us that legacies don’t die, they are reborn in different forms,” said political commentator George Ongeri.
Local leaders in Kisii have visited the family, offering financial and medical support. Nyanchoka, who comes from a modest background, appealed for continued assistance to help raise the quadruplets.
As Kenya continues to reflect on the life and impact of Raila Odinga, this story from Kisii serves as a reminder that even in mourning, hope and renewal persist, sometimes in the most unexpected ways.
