Ruto Appoints Raila Sister Wenwa Odinga to Head Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute

Dr. Wenwa Akinyi Odinga Oranga was on Friday afternoon named Chairperson of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, a position she will hold for the next three years.

Dr. Wenwa Akinyi Odinga. Facebook

Whether this appointment is an olive branch cast out to Raila or simply President Ruto’s ongoing efforts at inclusion of experts in his government, the timing is suspect.

Hours preceding this appointment President Ruto also appointed former Nairobi Governor, Evans Odhiambo Kidero to chair the board of Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC). This appointment too runs for three years.

An accomplished professional, in her own right, Dr. Wenwa Akinyi Odinga is also younger sister to the doyen of Kenya’s opposition politics Raila Amollo Odinga.

Sources indicate that Wenwa Akinyi Odinga was the first Kenyan woman to obtain a doctorate degree in Chemistry, having graduated with a Ph.D in Organic/Natural Products Chemistry from the University of Nairobi in 1989.

In January 2023, Homabay Governor Glady’s Atieno Wanga nominated her to serve in the County Revenue Board.

In 2021, Wenwa Akinyi Odinga Oranga was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).

Flashback of Dr. Wenwa Akinyi Odinga (standing) with her father Ajuma Jaramogi Oginga Odinga (seated). Photo | X

The appointment was made via a gazette notice dated May 21 by then Health Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe.

Her decorated career has also seen her serve as Kenya’s Consul-General in Los Angeles.

Prior to the appointment, Wenwa served as a senior lecturer at the University of Nairobi for 13 years.

Her LinkedIn profile also indicates that she worked as a senior assistant secretary for the Commission for University Education, Universities accreditation section in charge of curriculum development, accreditation and preparation of charter document of private Universities.

1987 to 1983 saw her serve as Chief Chemist at the Pyrethrum Board of Kenya in Nakuru. She was the head of Chemical Laboratories Department in charge of processing, quality analysis, research of pyrethrum-based products, and natural insecticide.

Raila Amollo Odinga. Photo | X

On Friday Mr. Odinga who has lately enjoyed immense backing from the Ruto administration in his bid for the Chairmanship of African Union Commission, issued a scathing attack against the government.

Calling it insensitive to the plight of Kenyans and working to kill devolution, Mr. Odinga said:

“The Division of Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2024, has created a standoff pitting the National Assembly and Senate. This impasse is a power grab and an assault on the constitution that Members of the National Assembly want to execute and is a cruel betrayal of the people and an overhaul of our structure of governance.”

Mr. Odinga’s opinion was that county governments should be empowered with the allocation of more resources rather than putting up a bill to curtail regional development.

Kenyans on X posted amusing remarks to Odinga’s sudden attack on his allies with some suggesting that his monthly check had not been settled or the check had bounced, prompting anger against the admininistration.

Also appointed in the same gazette notice is Nyeri billionaire Thuo Mathenge who will serve as the Chairperson of the Board of Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization for the next three years.