President William Ruto has appointed Dr. Wenwa Akinyi Oranga Odinga, the sister of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, as the chairperson of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KEMRI) Board. William Ruto Appoints Raila Odinga’s Sister to Plum State. Born to Mary Ajuma, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s first wife, Wenwa is the third-born in her family, following her brothers Oburu Oginga and Raila Odinga.
In a Gazette Notice dated Friday, November 15, 2024, Ruto named Dr. Wenwa to the post, which she will hold for a three-year term. Her tenure began immediately upon the announcement. “In exercise of the powers conferred by section 6 (1) (a) of the State Corporations Act, as read together with section 16 (2) and the Fourth Schedule of the Science, Technology and Innovation Act, 2013, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Wenwa Akinyi Oranga (Dr.) to be the Chairperson of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from 15th November, 2024,” reads the gazette notice in part.
KEMRI, a key institution in the advancement of scientific research, focuses on marine and freshwater fisheries, aquaculture, environmental studies, and marine biodiversity conservation. Alongside Akinyi, former Nairobi governor Evans Kidero secured another plum role, returning to leadership after his defeat in the Homa Bay gubernatorial race. Other notable appointees included Teobald Wambugu, named Chairperson of the Tana Water Works Development Agency, and Thuo Mathenge, Chairperson of the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation, both for three-year terms.
What are Wenwa’s past roles in public service Wenwa is not new to high-profile positions; in 2023, Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga nominated her to the County Assembly’s Public Service and Revenue Board. She previously served as a member of the Kenya Medical Research Institute board during the government of retired president Uhuru Kenyatta, an appointment made by former Health CS Mutahi Kagwe in the year 2021. Wenwa, a noted trailblazer, was the first Kenyan woman to receive a doctorate in chemistry. Beyond her professional achievements, she is a trustee of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation and Pan Africa Petroleum Limited.
by Didacus Malowa
