Sakaja Appoints Beryl Odinga’s Son to Nairobi Water Role in Emotional Farewell

At the memorial service for Beryl Achieng Odinga, Governor Johnson Sakaja announced that her son, Taurai Ernest Raila, would succeed her as vice chair of the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company. 

Sakaja framed the appointment as a continuation of Achieng’s legacy, cautioning the audience not to publicise the decision to avoid potential scrutiny in the Senate.

Held at Nairobi’s Consolata Shrine, the service was a moment of reflection on Achieng’s life and role in public service. 

Achieng, who passed away leaving behind three children, had faced political tensions during her tenure, notably when she was removed as chair of Nairobi Water during the transition to the Kenya Kwanza administration. This move prompted strong protests from her brother, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, though a compromise was later reached, with Achieng retained as vice chair.

The memorial also underscored the continued patronage of the Odinga family in Kenyan governance. Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, head of the family, assured mourners that Achieng’s daughter, Chizi, would be assisted in securing a position. 

Chizi, a lawyer, shared a personal reflection on her unusual name, explaining its origins during a period of reconciliation between her parents.