Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has marked the end of 2025 with a reflective message on grief, resilience, and hope, following a year of profound personal loss for the Odinga family.

In a Facebook post shared on December 31, 2025, Ruth described the year as one that tested faith and spirit beyond expectation. She paid tribute to loved ones who passed away and offered comfort to others who are grieving, expressing hope that the coming year will be gentler.

“Goodbye 2025. This was the year that tested our spirits and faith in ways we never imagined,” she wrote. “To the ones we lost, you are irreplaceable. Your memory is a light we will carry into the new year.”

Her message comes against the backdrop of a difficult period for the family, marked by the deaths of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his younger sister, Beryl Achieng Odinga, within weeks of each other.

Raila Odinga was laid to rest on October 19, 2025, at the family home in Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, Bondo, Siaya County. The private burial ceremony drew national attention and brought together leaders from across the political divide. Seventeen military gun salutes marked the end of a life that shaped Kenya’s political landscape for more than four decades.

Another loss, shared grief

Barely a month later, the family suffered another blow with the death of Beryl Achieng Odinga on November 25, 2025.

Speaking during a Holy Mass and mini fundraiser held on November 30, 2025, in Kileleshwa, Nairobi, Ruth Odinga revealed that the family struggled emotionally with how to share the news of Beryl’s death.

She said the family felt afraid to announce another loss so soon after Raila’s burial, describing the moment as overwhelming. Ruth thanked colleagues, friends, and supporters who stood with the family, saying their presence gave them strength during a painful time.

Beryl Achieng Odinga was remembered as a warm and compassionate woman who remained deeply connected to her family. She was the daughter of Kenya’s first vice president, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and Mary Ajuma Oginga, and a devoted mother to three children: Ami, Auma, and Chizi.

As 2025 ends, Ruth’s message reflects both personal grief and shared mourning. She acknowledged the pain carried by many families and urged people to hold one another gently as they move into the new year.

“Here’s to hoping 2026 is kinder to our hearts,” she wrote.