Leaders gathered in Nairobi on Tuesday afternoon to honour the late Beryl Achieng Odinga, with Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka offering a personal reflection on their shared years at the University of Nairobi.
The requiem mass, held at the Consolata Shrine in Westlands, brought together relatives, political figures, and friends to celebrate her life and contributions in Kenya and beyond.
In remarks attributed to his official statement, Kalonzo said he first met Beryl when both were law students, noting that she distinguished herself early through discipline and a calm but focused demeanour.
He added that she remained committed to public service throughout her career, a path shaped partly by her upbringing in one of Kenya’s most politically influential families.
Beryl was the daughter of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Mama Mary Ajuma Oginga, and sister to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Although she was raised within a household strongly associated with Kenya’s pro-democracy movement, Beryl pursued a professional route that kept her largely outside frontline politics.
Her career took her to Zimbabwe, where she served as Town Clerk of Mutare, a position Kalonzo described as a historic milestone because she became the first Black person to hold the office.
Her work in urban planning and administration placed her among the region’s notable public service professionals.
Upon returning to Kenya, Beryl joined local governance structures at a time when county and city institutions were under intense scrutiny due to public demands for accountability and improved service delivery.
She later chaired the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company, where, according to Kalonzo’s statement, she exhibited firm leadership during a period marked by operational challenges and rising pressure from residents and oversight bodies. Her efforts earned respect across Nairobi’s governance space.
During the service, prayers were extended to Raila Odinga and the wider Odinga family, including Senator Oburu Oginga and Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, who have long been central figures in Kenya’s political landscape.
Kalonzo also conveyed condolences to other family members, noting that Beryl’s death had deeply affected a family he said had “given much to the nation.”
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