Ida Odinga, widow of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, disclosed a personal fortune amounting to Ksh.500 million during her parliamentary vetting for the role of Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme.
Testifying before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations on Friday, Ida elaborated on the scope of her assets and differentiated them from family holdings.
“Certain assets are personally owned by me, while others belong to the Oginga family in which I also have an interest, but my personal wealth stands at approximately Ksh.500 million,” Ida Odinga remarked without elaborating on the origins of her substantial fortune.
Presenting her vision for the position, Ida Odinga emphasized the urgency of tackling environmental degradation, cautioning that the nation’s future prosperity hinges on sustainable climate initiatives.
“The manner in which we manage or neglect our environment will directly impact our quality of life. Through this role, I will work to mitigate the harmful consequences of environmental degradation, particularly affecting vulnerable segments of our society. We stand at a pivotal juncture with the opportunity to define our environmental trajectory,” she added.
Additionally, she committed to advocating for Kenya’s and Africa’s interests within the international environmental organization.
“My objective is to contribute to halting the destruction of our planet and advancing all related environmental priorities. I will be vigilant in ensuring that the concerns of Kenya and Africa are adequately represented and that we collaborate with other stakeholders to ensure these initiatives have tangible effects at the grassroots level,” she stated.
During an emotional moment, she also paid tribute to her late husband, Raila Odinga, acknowledging his unwavering support throughout their 52-year marriage.
“I wish to specifically acknowledge my greatest supporter, my beloved husband Raila Odinga who recently passed away. He played a significant role in shaping the person I have become,” she shared.
The parliamentary committee is scheduled to deliberate and present its findings to the National Assembly for subsequent discussion and potential approval.