President William Ruto has appointed Dr. Wenwa Akinyi Oranga, the sister to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, to be the Chairperson of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute.
In a gazette notice dated November 15, Ruto stated that Wenwa will hold the position for three years, with effect from November 15, 2024.
Wenwa has held several posts in Kenya’s government including a stint as a Consul General.
She served as a senior lecturer at the University of Nairobi (UoN) from 1996 to 2009.
Between 1993 and 1996, Wenwa served as a Senior Assistant Commission Secretary at the Commission for Higher Education (CUE).
She was worked at the universities’ accreditation section in charge of curriculum development, accreditation and preparation of charter document of private Universities.
Besides, she worked as a chief chemist at the Pyrethrum Board of Kenya for six years from December 1987 to December 1993.
She was head of the Chemical Laboratories Department in charge of processing, quality analysis and research of pyrethrum-based products.
Recent Govt Appointments
In May 2021, Dr Wenwa was appointed as a member of the Kenya Medical Research Institute board.
Former Health CS Mutahi Kagwe appointed her alongside Prof Timothy Mwololo Waema, Dr George Njoroge and Marstella Bahati Kahindi.
The four were to hold their positions for three years from May 17, 2021.
She was also among the seven people nominated to serve in the County Revenue Board by Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga in January 2023.
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Wenwa Akinyi Education
Wenwa holds holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc), Master of Science (MSc), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), with her doctoral research focused on natural products.
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Additionally, Wenwa was the first Kenyan woman to obtain a doctorate degree in chemistry.
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Prominent Members of the Odinga Family
Wenwa is among the descendants of late former Vice President Oginga Odinga who are currently holding prominent positions in Kenya.
Oburu Oginga, Raila’s elder brother, is the current Senator for Siaya County and immediate former member for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) based in Arusha, Tanzania.
Raila’s daughter Winnie Odinga is serving as an EALA MP having been nominated after the 2022 elections.
Ruth Odinga, Raila’s younger sister, is the current Kisumu County woman representative.
Ruth served as a former Deputy Governor of Kisumu County and founding chairperson of the Kenya Network of Women Governors (KENWOG).
Meanwhile, Raila is eyeing the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson position.
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