The controversy emerged in late December 2025 after a video circulated online featuring an elderly woman who claimed to be a wife of Kenya’s first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
In the clip, the woman made sensational assertions about the Odinga family lineage, questioned the paternity of Raila Odinga’s children, and challenged Mama Ida Odinga over family property.
In response, Raila Odinga’s sister, Dr. Wenwa Akinyi Odinga, issued a firm clarification to set the historical record straight regarding their father’s marital history and family structure.
Dr. Wenwa outlined Jaramogi’s officially recognized wives, naming Mary Juma Ajuma Raila’s mother as the first wife, followed by Gaudencia Adeya, Susan Agik, and Betty Adongo, the youngest and last wife who still resides at the family home in Bondo.
She explained that while Jaramogi was polygamous, some family arrangements were shaped by Luo cultural practices, including situations where relatives were incorporated into marriages to maintain harmony.
Dr. Wenwa dismissed the viral allegations as “baseless” and “malicious,” stressing that they were misleading and disrespectful to the family’s legacy.
The family’s response comes at a sensitive period, as the Odingas are still mourning the death of Raila’s younger sister, Beryl Achieng Odinga, who passed away in November 2025.
Dr. Wenwa emphasized the need to protect the family’s dignity and preserve the historical truth surrounding Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s life, urging the public to refrain from spreading misinformation that undermines both private grief and a significant national legacy.
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