Raila's Sister Dr. Wenwa Odinga Appointed to Head KEMRI Board

President William Ruto has appointed Dr. Wenwa Akinyi Oranga Odinga to chair the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KEMRI) Board.

The appointment, formalized through a Gazette Notice dated November 15, 2024, establishes a three-year tenure for Dr. Wenwa, who is notably the sister of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Dr. Wenwa's familial background is deeply rooted in Kenya's political history. Born to Mary Ajuma, the first wife of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, she stands as the third child in the family, following her brothers Oburu Oginga and Raila Odinga.

The presidential appointment was executed under specific legal provisions, drawing authority from the State Corporations Act in conjunction with the Science, Technology and Innovation Act, 2013. President Ruto's formal notice detailed the constitutional basis for this appointment, emphasizing its alignment with established legal frameworks. This appointment emerges as part of a broader leadership restructuring that has seen several notable figures assume key positions.

Among these appointments are former Nairobi governor Evans Kidero, who returns to public service following his unsuccessful bid for the Homa Bay gubernatorial position. The restructuring also include Teobald Wambugu's appointment to lead the Tana Water Works Development Agency and Thuo Mathenge's selection to chair the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation. Dr. Wenwa recent involvement includes a nomination to the Homa Bay County Assembly's Public Service and Revenue Board in 2023 by Governor Gladys Wanga.

She also held a position on the Kenya Medical Research Institute board during President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration, appointed by then-Health CS Mutahi Kagwe in 2021. Her distinction as the first Kenyan woman to earn a doctorate in chemistry underscores her pioneering role in the scientific community. Beyond her professional endeavours, Dr. Wenwa maintains important roles as a trustee of both the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation and Pan Africa Petroleum Limited.