NAIROBI, Kenya — Beryl Achieng Odinga, the youngest sister of opposition leader Raila Odinga, passed away on Tuesday while receiving treatment at a Nairobi hospital.
A distinguished professional whose career spanned multiple continents, Beryl Achieng left an indelible mark on both Kenya and Zimbabwe, forging a legacy defined by resilience, law, and urban development.
Born into the political dynasty of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Mama Mary Ajuma Oginga, Beryl completed her Form Six (‘A’ Levels) studies in December 1972 before embarking on careers in teaching and law.
Her early life placed her directly among Kenya’s future political elite; she shared academic halls with notable figures such as former Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and current Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, as she shared during a birthday celebration for her brother Oburu Odinga in October 2023.
Exile and professional triumph in Zimbabwe
Beryl’s life took a defining turn following her marriage to aspiring legislator Otieno Ambala in 1974.
The union was fraught with difficulties, and Raila Odinga’s 2014 biography, The Flame of Freedom, recounts how Beryl endured an abusive marriage, prompting a harrowing decision.
Seeking safety and refuge in the 1980s, she fled Kenya with her children and was granted asylum in Zimbabwe.
This period of personal upheaval became the foundation for her most significant professional achievements.
She began working with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Local Government, where she helped shape critical urban planning policy in the newly independent nation.
Beryl made history as the first black Town Clerk of Mutare, Zimbabwe’s third-largest city, where she played a pivotal role in post-independence municipal governance.
Her most notable contribution was designing the Chitungwiza Town planning policy, which was later implemented during her tenure as Town Planning Director at the Chitungwiza Town Council (CTC).
Her planning work modernized the town’s urban framework, curbing informal peri-urban settlements and influencing the city’s structure for decades.
Return to public service
After establishing herself as a bona fide resident, Beryl returned to corporate service, later serving as Company Secretary at the Housing Corporation of Zimbabwe.
In recent years, Beryl returned to Kenya, reconnecting with her political roots and joining local governance.
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In 2020, she was appointed by former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko to the board of the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company.
Her sudden passing leaves a void in the Odinga family, celebrated for her resilience, her contribution to urban policy in southern Africa, and her lifelong commitment to public service.
She is survived by her children, Ami Auma, Chizi, and Taure.
