Beryl Odinga ‘lost will to live’ after Raila’s death - daughter

Siblings: Raila Odinga and Beryl Odinga in a past picture. They died forty days apart./FILE

Beryl Odinga’s daughter has revealed that her mother never recovered from the death of her brother, the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying she openly declared that life no longer held meaning for her.

Speaking during her mother’s memorial service at Consolata Shrine on Wednesday, Chizi Ambala told mourners that Beryl was deeply affected after Raila died, describing the bond between the two as strong.

“When Baba passed, the first words out of my mom’s mouth were: ‘There is nothing for me on this earth anymore,’” she said.

She told the gathering that her mother’s pain showed the depth of devotion the siblings shared over their lifetime.

She recalled stories her mother frequently told, memories from the years when Baba, as she fondly referred to Raila, lived in Nairobi West as a young bachelor.

According to Chizi, Raila would pick Beryl up, bring her to his apartment, and insist that she sleep in his bed while he took the hard floor.

Even after Beryl’s marriage ended, the daughter said Raila continued to support her mother in significant ways.

She recounted how Beryl told her the story of their move to Zimbabwe, which would later become a central part of their family’s history and emotional landscape.

Chizzi described the country as a second home chosen by her mother and her uncle, where they built a shared life and lasting memories.

“It was our home, his escape, and our history,” she said.

Throughout the eulogy, she emphasised that Baba’s presence in her mother’s life had been unwavering in her childhood, in adulthood, and even in Beryl’s final years.

The two remained deeply intertwined, she said, to the point that her mother openly expressed that life had lost its meaning the day Raila died.

“You often cannot tell how close two people really were until one of them is no longer here,” she said, describing a bond that continued shaping their lives long after his passing.

Chizi described Beryl as intelligent, strong, and fiercely loving, noting that despite the family’s prayers, her mother had grown tired and longed for rest.

“I prayed and prayed, but I now know I was selfish. I wanted her to stay here for me, not realising she had given so much and needed to rest,” she said.

Beryl, she added, lived life boldly and made her presence felt wherever she went.

Chizi said she now takes comfort in believing that her mother has reunited with loved ones who passed before her.

“I will walk with grief for now, but one day grief will leave,” she said, adding that the love she shares with her mother will remain stronger than the sorrow.

She added that she is slowly learning to accept the loss, saying, “Heaven has taken you while my sorrow has engulfed me. I am grieving, yet I am glad you got to live life on your own terms.”

Chizi also expressed comfort in believing that her mother had reunited with family members who passed before her; Raila, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and Mama Mary.