In the shadow of Kenya’s most storied political dynasty, Beryl Achieng Odinga lived a life defined not by spotlights or podiums, but by quiet resilience, professional dedication, and unwavering family bonds. The youngest sister of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga passed away on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at Nairobi West Hospital after a prolonged illness. Her death, announced by her sister Kisumu County Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, comes just 41 days after Raila’s own passing on October 15 in India, plunging the Odinga family into fresh grief and prompting an outpouring of national condolences.

A Heavy-Hearted Announcement

Ruth Odinga’s Facebook post captured the family’s raw sorrow: “It is with a heavy heart, but accepting the will of God, we announce the sudden passing of Beryl Achieng Odinga. Daughter of the late Hon. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Mama Mary Ajuma Oginga. Mother to Ami Auma, Chizi, and Taurai. Sister to Senator Oburu Oginga, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, Akinyi Wenwa, amongst others.” The statement emphasized the “immense void” left behind, while finding solace in cherished memories and faith: “We are deeply saddened by her demise… but thankful for the invaluable gift of the time we were privileged to share with her and for the profound impact she had on all who knew her.”

Beryl, who had been battling health issues for years, was unable to attend Raila’s funeral on October 19 at their ancestral home in Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, Siaya County. Reports indicate she was out of the country for treatment at one point, even sharing the same Indian medical facility where Raila sought care earlier that year. Her absence from the state funeral, attended by dignitaries from across Africa, was a poignant footnote to the family’s compounding losses.

Roots in a Legacy of Legacy-Makers

Born into the Odinga clan as the fourth child of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first Vice President and a towering figure in the independence struggle and his first wife, Mary Ajuma Oginga, Beryl grew up in a household where politics was as commonplace as breakfast. Her siblings included political heavyweights like Senator Oburu Oginga (her elder brother), Raila (the fiery opposition leader turned Prime Minister), and Ruth herself, a vocal MP. Yet, Beryl charted a different path, shunning the electoral fray for roles in public service and administration.

In 1974, she married Otieno Ambala, who later became the MP for Gem Constituency but tragically died in 1985. Raila later recounted in his 2014 biography, The Flame of Freedom, the hardships Beryl endured during that marriage, highlighting her fortitude amid personal and national turbulence. As a mother to three, Ami Auma, Chizi, and Taurai, she balanced family life with a career that spanned borders and sectors.

Beryl’s professional footprint was as trailblazing as it was understated. She made history as the first Black Town Clerk of Mutare, Zimbabwe’s third-largest city, a role that underscored her administrative prowess in post-colonial Africa. Back in Kenya, she served as Chairperson of the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC) from 2020, stepping into the role during a crisis of water shortages and operational woes. Colleagues praised her as “firm, discreet, and committed,” crediting her with stabilizing the board and enhancing accountability. Though details of her education remain sparse, her leadership across public institutions painted a picture of a woman who wielded influence through expertise rather than oratory.

A Private Figure in a Public Family

Unlike her siblings, Beryl rarely courted the media or political rallies. She was a steady presence at family milestones, like Raila’s birthday celebrations, where he once introduced her with affectionate warmth: “This is my sister Beryl, who has always been there for us.” Archival footage from such events shows her smiling modestly beside Raila, a schoolmate of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, embodying the Odinga ethos of service without self-promotion.

Her life intersected with Kenya’s turbulent history from the detention eras under Jaramogi to the multiparty struggles led by Raila yet she remained the family’s anchor, offering counsel from the sidelines.

Echoes of Grief: National Mourning Renewed

News of Beryl’s passing rippled across Kenya like aftershocks from Raila’s death, which had already drawn a week of national mourning and a star-studded funeral. On X (formerly Twitter), tributes poured in swiftly:

• “God be with you and the spirits shield you this year, Ruth Odinga,” one user wrote, invoking Luo cultural resilience.
• “Heartfelt condolences to the family of Jaramogi Odinga. May her soul rest in peace,” echoed another.
• Media outlets like MwanzoTV highlighted her legacy: “Beryl, remembered for her professional achievements and public service.”

Kenyans online lamented the Odinga clan’s string of tragedies, with posts like “God protect this family” going viral. The timing barely six weeks after Raila’s burial has reignited discussions on the burdens borne by political families, where public service often exacts a private toll.

A Legacy Beyond the Headlines

Beryl Achieng Odinga’s story is one of quiet contributions in an era of loud revolutions. She leaves behind a family still reeling, a nation grateful for her service, and a reminder that true influence often whispers. As the Odingas prepare for yet another farewell, perhaps at the same Siaya soil that cradles Jaramogi and now Raila, Kenyans reflect on a woman who, in her own words from rare interviews, simply sought to “do good where I can.”

Rest in peace, Beryl. Your void is felt, but your light endures.