Beryl Odinga to be buried in Bondo amid family tensions

Preparations are in top gear for the burial of Beryl Achieng Odinga, the younger sister of the late opposition leader Raila Odinga, scheduled to take place today (Saturday) at the Odinga family home, Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County.

The ceremonies come against the backdrop of a heated public debate after concerns were raised by a section of relatives over burial rites and cultural protocols.

Some family members questioned whether Beryl met certain traditional Luo requirements for burial at the ancestral home.

But Suba North MP Ms Millie Odhiambo dismissed the claims as unfounded and harmful, insisting that the Odinga family had done nothing wrong.

“Those raising issues should first bring evidence — including whether they themselves have the famous six lower teeth removed — before lecturing anyone about Luo traditions,” she said earlier in the week.

The controversy has stirred emotion within Nyanza political circles, with ODM leaders closing ranks in support of the burial plans.

On Saturday morning, ODM Deputy Party Leader Mr Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir shared photos of himself at Moi International Airport, Mombasa, saying he was travelling to Bondo to stand in solidarity with the Odinga family.

Other senior ODM figures are also expected to attend.

Adding to the family’s grief is the recent death of Adongo Ambala, Beryl’s stepdaughter, who passed away suddenly on 21 November 2025, deepening the sense of tragedy surrounding the Odinga household.

Beryl Achieng’s burial will be the latest major ceremony at the historic Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in a year marked by loss.

Her elder brother, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, died on 15 October 2025 and was laid to rest on 19 October at the same homestead after a state funeral attended by heads of state and dignitaries from across Africa.