RUTH ODINGA
AGE | NOT KNOWN |
GENDER | FEMALE |
OCCUPATION | POLITICIAN |
Ruth Odinga Adhiambo is a Kenyan politician currently serving as the Women’s Representative for Kisumu County in the National Assembly.
She is a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Ruth Odinga comes from a prominent political family; she is the daughter of Jaramogi Odinga, Kenya’s first vice president, and the sister of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Senator Oburu Odinga.
Educational background of Ruth Odinga
Ruth Odinga began her education at Xaverian Primary School in Kisumu, where she earned the East African Certificate of Primary Education (EACPE) in 1973.
In 1983, she attended Mutare Girls High School in Zimbabwe to complete her A Levels.
Ruth Odinga pursued higher education at the University of Oslo, where she earned a degree in social science in 1985 and a postgraduate certificate in development studies in 1989.
Career information
Ruth Odinga began his career in the private sector, and her experience includes leadership roles at Spectre International Limited, where she was Managing Director and Director of Sales, Marketing & CSR from 2005 to 2011.
Later, she served as the Chief Executive Officer from 2011 to 2013.
She also held the position of Managing Director at Petro Plus Africa between 2002 and 2005 and worked as a Development Officer in both London and with the African Community Development Association from 1998 to 2002.
Earlier in her career, she taught Geography at Marina International High School in Gambia (1992–1995).
Professional affiliations include membership in the Kenya Institute of Management, Kenya Association of Manufacturers, and East African Business Council.
She has also served as Chairlady at Nyahera Sub-County District Hospital and held board membership at Bar Union School. She is the founder of the Kenya Network of Women Governors (KEWOG) and was honoured with a Gender Champion Award by the Department of Gender.
Political career
Ruth Odinga entered active politics in 2013 when she ran for the position of Governor of Kisumu County.
Although she lost to Jack Ranguma, she was appointed and served as the Deputy Governor of Kisumu County from 2013 to 2017.
During this tenure, she participated in various development projects and governance activities in the county.
After completing her term as Deputy Governor, from 2017 to 2022, Ruth Odinga served as the Senior Advisor to the Governor of Kisumu and the Director of Special Programs and Disaster Management.
In August 2022, Ruth Odinga was elected as the Women Representative for Kisumu County in the National Assembly on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket.
She defeated her competitor, Valentine Anyango of the Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) party.
In Parliament, she advocates strongly for women’s rights and development and serves as the founding chairperson of the Kenya Network of Women Governors (KEWOG).
Beyond elective office, Ruth Odinga has been a vocal women’s rights activist and a recognised champion for gender equality, receiving awards such as the Gender Champion Award from the Kenyan Department of Gender.
Net Worth
Details about her net worth are not publicly available.
However, Ruth Odinga earns a gross salary of KSh739,600 as a Member of Parliament.
This includes a Basic Salary of KSh443,760, House Allowance of KSh150,000, and Salary Market Adjustment of KSh145,840.
Ruth Odinga also earns KSh7,500 per sitting, up to a maximum of KSh120,000 monthly.
Additionally, she is entitled to a Mileage Allowance of KSh116.63 per kilometre, capped at KSh353,778 monthly, a Car Maintenance Allowance of KSh356,525 monthly, and an Airtime Allowance of KSh15,000 monthly.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates