Inside Lwam Bekele's renewed battle for Fidel Odinga's wealth

As the nation gathered to bid farewell to former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, the man who shaped Kenya’s democratic destiny, two faces were conspicuously absent from the solemn ceremony: his former daughter-in-law, Lwam Getachew Bekele, and his grandson, Allay, the son of the late Fidel Odinga.

As mourners whispered about their absence, Mama Ida Odinga took a deep breath during her tribute. Introducing Raila’s other grandchildren to the mourners, she paused, her voice trembling slightly. “There is also Allay Raila Odinga, who unfortunately is not here with us, but, as soon as he arrives, he will be able to speak for himself… Allay is the son of my late son, Fidel Castro Odinga. He is the one who is not here with us today… but yeah… it is life,” she said.
In a formal application announced through a gazette notice dated Friday, October 17, the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority revealed that Lwam had applied to be appointed as the administrator of Fidel’s unclaimed finances.

It’s a move that breathes new life into the long, intricate tale of love, loss, and inheritance that has followed the Odinga family since Fidel’s untimely passing in January 2015.

The Authority stated it had received claims for unclaimed assets from various individuals, including Lwam, who applied to manage the wealth left behind by the deceased.

READ: Tracking Fidel: Inside the final hours of Raila Odinga’s son

Under the law, such an application requires the administrator to file the appropriate forms and secure letters of no objection from other beneficiaries. A 30-day window is opened for any counterclaims. If none are made, the assets will be officially transferred to her.

Legal settlement

This isn’t the first time the widow of the late firstborn son of the late Raila Odinga, the country’s opposition leader and one-time prime minister, has been thrust into the spotlight over her husband’s estate.

Back in July 2022, Lwam reached a settlement that effectively buried years of family disputes over Fidel’s inheritance. In that deal, she obtained control of three of his four properties, with their son, Allay Raila Odinga, receiving the fourth. The agreement, sealed with the involvement of prominent law firms Sagana Biriq & Company and Rachier & Amollo, also included terms on the division of Fidel’s cash, shares, and vehicles.

Under the settlement, Lwam retained the family home in Tipuana Park along Bogani Road, Karen, a vast parcel of land in Dalalekutuk, Kajiado, and land in Kanyawegi, Kisumu, overlooking the scenic Maboko Island in Lake Victoria.

Her son, Allay, inherited a neighbouring parcel of land in Othany, Kisumu, held in trust by his mother until he turns 18.

ALSO READ: Millionaire in waiting? Fidel Odinga's son Allay owns properties, bank accounts and cars

In the deal, what the young boy may have missed in land ownership was more than compensated for in financial inheritance.

Allay became the sole beneficiary of all seven of his father’s bank accounts, spread across Gulf African Bank, ABC Bank, Stanbic Bank, Standard Chartered, and Diamond Trust Bank — all held in trust by his mother.

Allay also inherited his father’s business interests: 250 ordinary shares each in Axum Investments Ltd and Ambesa Investments Ltd, and two vehicles: a Range Rover and a Nissan Sunny.

At the time, the Odinga family had fiercely objected to the initial grant naming Lwam and Fahm Getachew Bekele as administrators of Fidel’s estate. The objection, filed by Ida Odinga, argued that the grant excluded other rightful beneficiaries, including Fidel’s siblings and other children alleged to have been born after his death.

They accused the widow of “intermeddling” with some of the properties before the court process was complete and questioned her decision to move out of the family home immediately after Fidel’s burial.

“Even though the death of the deceased remains a mystery and efforts were made to establish what suddenly transpired, Lwam kept off from the family. It remains unclear why she hastily ran away and kept off the family,” read part of their court objection.

The family maintained their interest was purely to safeguard the welfare of all minors and ensure the estate was distributed fairly.

Widow’s response

Lwam, however, hit back strongly, asserting she was legally entitled to priority as the surviving spouse. “I wish to state that the information I provided in the affidavit in support of the application for grant of letters of administration intestate was, to the best of my knowledge, the accurate position of the assets, liabilities, beneficiaries and dependents of the deceased.
Any omission was because the said information was not within my knowledge,” she said.

ALSO READ: Fidel Odinga: Gem and glue that bonded the Raila family

She also challenged the claims about other alleged children, stating: “They were born six months after my husband died,” and demanded proof of paternity before they could be included as beneficiaries.
Her argument extended to their Karen home, which she stated was jointly owned with her husband.

“The Tipuana Park house was held under a joint tenancy with joint proprietors being myself and the late Fidel. Upon my husband’s death, the property automatically reverted to my ownership and did not, therefore, form part of the deceased’s estate,” she maintained.

Fidel, remembered for his calm charm and political promise, was widely seen as a natural successor to his father’s legacy before his death on January 4, 2015. He was found lifeless in their home by his wife after a night out with friends. Post-mortem results offered no conclusive cause, leaving the family and the public with lingering questions.

Since then, the estate wrangles have played out both in court and through whispered disputes within the family’s inner circle.

The situation took a new turn when Fidel’s younger brother, Raila Odinga Junior, was appointed as co-administrator of the estate alongside Lwam, replacing Fahm Getachew.
The move marked a thaw in once-frosty relations between the two sides. Now, as Lwam moves to claim unclaimed financial assets, the final chapter of Fidel’s estate may soon be written, possibly bringing closure to a long and painful family saga that has lingered since tragedy struck the Odinga household.