Dr Oburu Oginga is expected to return to the country by Friday, cutting short his brief period of rest so he can once again take up the weighty responsibility of guiding the Odinga family through yet another painful chapter, the burial of his younger sister Beryl Achieng Odinga who died on Tuesday.
The Odinga family patriarch and spokesperson had travelled to Dubai on November 21 for what Ruth Odinga, Kisumu Woman Representative and his younger sister, described as a short three-day break following an exhausting and emotionally draining political period.
However, since the death of former Premier Raila Odinga on October 15, 2025, rest has been a luxury for the Siaya senator and the wider family have scarcely known.
Day after day, they have received a steady stream of mourners, dignitaries and supporters at Opoda Farm and Kang’o ka Jaramogi, all coming to offer their condolences and share in grief.
Now the passing of Ms Achieng has cast an even darker shadow over the family, compounding their sorrow and turning an already heavy period of mourning into a double tragedy that has deeply shaken both the family and those who stand by them.
Friends and relatives have been streaming in at the Lee funeral home to view the body and also visiting her home in Kileleshwa in Nairobi to condole with the Odinga family.
Speaking to the Nation on phone, Ms Achieng’s step sister Emily Oginga, said they were waiting for the family head to return so that they can start preparation for the burial.
“It is not easy for us; it is like the death’s harvesting season for us. We are waiting for Dr Oburu to return, most probably on Friday, so that we can have a meeting and start preparations for the burial of my sister. At the moment, friends and relatives are condoling with the family at her Kileleshwa home in Nairobi,” said Emily.
She added that some are also visiting Kang’o ka Jaramogi, to condole with Betty Oginga and Susan Oginga, the surviving widows of the first vice-president, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, for losing yet another child within two months.
According to Mr Jaoko Oburu, Dr Oginga’s son, the death of his aunt is painful since he is losing yet another family member who was close to his heart.
“To our loving mother and mentor Aunty B, words can't express my sorrow of losing you 40 days after losing another great mentor, Baba. You will be missed mama na . We will always love you and cherish you. Your memory and legacy lives on in us, your children and family,” said Jaoko.
He said the family has been overwhelmed with grief over the past few weeks, which informed their move to force his father to rest after weeks of tight schedule that he claims denied him adequate time to mourn his brother.
The family members have also been involved in many party activities with barely time to allow the 82-year-old Orange Democratic Movement Party Leader to rest.
“We have had functions all over to condole with our people in Homa Bay, Migori and the ODM@20. We realized that the party leader had not even had some minutes to mourn his own brother. Therefore, as a family, we insisted that he needed a break which we made sure that last week on Thursday he took this break in Dubai,” said Jaoko.
He added that unfortunately, another loss hit the family, following the demise of his aunt Ms Achieng.
However, Raila Odinga’s shadow still looms large, overshadowing his younger sister who died two days ago.
Thousands are still streaming into his father’s home to pay their last respects at the gravesite, with the latest being a team from the civil society and a delegation by Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.
