Mourners who attended a memorial service for Beryl Achieng Odinga , one of the children of founding Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, got a glimpse of the employment processes among Kenya’s elite as a vacancy was “filled” openly.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, while sharing the final moments he shared with Achieng and the friendship they enjoyed, said one of her children will replace her as the vice chair of the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company.
“The gap left by Beryl will stay in the family. We’ll make sure that one of you can take up that spot,” he said as he mentioned the name of her only son, Taurai Ernest Raila.
“Lakini msitangaze sasa huko nje mseme ati…na senator ako hapa. Asiniite Senate kusema hiyo ilikuwaje (But don’t go out there announcing that…you know the senator [Edwin Sifuna] is here. Let him not call me to the senate to say how that happened),” added Mr Sakaja.
“I committed to her that I will make sure you are taken care of. We will not leave you, we will not be away,” he further said, noting that he had been having conversations with Achieng as she ailed.
“A few months ago, I went to see her at the ICU at Nairobi Hospital. And she pulled through just a few days after that. She was cheerful, jovial,” said Mr Sakaja. “And so when we got the news, I was extremely shocked.”
Achieng left behind three children: Ami Auma, Chizi and Taure.
Mr Sakaja revealed that his late mother was a schoolmate of Dr Wenwa Akinyi, one of Jaramogi’s children.
The governor also noted that when Achieng was replaced as the Nairobi Water chair when the Kenya Kwanza administration took over power, her brother Raila Odinga – the former Prime Minister who died 41 days before her – was livid.
“When I became governor, there was no broad-based,” he said at the event held at the Consolata Shrine. “And so, one side of the coalition had said that she cannot even be on the board as the chair of Nairobi Water.”
“And the other side was saying she must be the chair. It was very awkward. And so, I kept her in the board as vice chair, but when Baba heard it, he took the first flight to Mombasa. The Speaker [of Nairobi, Kennedy Ng’ondi] was there,” added Mr Sakaja. “I have never seen Baba [Raila] more emotional, upset, and angry. He was literally barking. And I explained the situation and we sorted it out.”
Another of Achieng’s children, Chizi Ambala, was also promised help in finding a job by Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, the head of the Odinga family.
“Chizi here is a lawyer, and she has been working with some organisation here in Kenya, but right now she’s not, but keep heart. We are going to make sure you are fixed somewhere. You are going to get a place; don’t worry,” said Dr Oburu.
Chizi, in her speech, said her name was given to her by her mother, adding that she is proud of it despite the queries it raises.
“My name is Chizi. Here in Kenya, people laugh and do a double-take. They can’t understand how that is my real name. Shortly before I was born, my parents had fought and made up. My dad had told my mum to go ahead and name me. So, she chose a name for me—Chizi. She thought it was beautiful. So, I love my name. It was a symbol of her love for me, so I wear it proudly, and I will stand up for it, even if it’s against the entire country laughing at me. I am fine with it,” she said.
