Siaya Senator and ODM leader Dr Oburu Odinga has maintained a prominent political career for decades while keeping much of his family life out of the public spotlight.
Oburu is married to two wives, Dr Anne Ayoo Oburu and Judith Oburu, who have largely maintained low public profiles despite their association with the veteran politician.
The couple has seven children, although Oburu has kept details about most of them private.
Here is what is publicly known about Oburu Odinga’s wives and children.
Dr Anne Ayoo Oburu: Oburu Odinga Wife
Dr Anne Ayoo Oburu is the first wife of Siaya Senator and ODM leader Dr Oburu Oginga Odinga. She is a medical doctor specialising in paediatrics and has maintained a largely private profile despite her long association with one of Kenya’s prominent political families.
Anne Ayoo met Oburu while she was a student at Alliance Girls High School, and he was already at university. Oburu later arranged for her to study medicine at Patrice Lumumba University, now known as Peoples’ Friendship University, in Moscow.
She qualified as a medical doctor and later specialised in paediatrics. The couple married in 1967 and have remained together for decades.
Oburu has described Anne Ayoo as a major source of support throughout his political and personal life. He has also called her the woman who “took me out of boyhood”.
Anne Ayoo has largely stayed away from political rallies and media interviews. She has, however, appeared at significant family occasions, including the launch of Oburu’s autobiography and the state funeral of his brother, Raila Odinga, in October 2025.
During the launch of Oburu’s autobiography, Anne Ayoo recalled hardships the family experienced during periods of political persecution, including an occasion when their property was auctioned while she was in labour with their last-born child.
Oburu publicly introduced her during Raila’s state funeral, identifying her as a paediatrician and highlighting her long-standing role in his life.
Judith Oburu: Second Wife
Judith Oburu is the second wife of Siaya Senator and ODM leader Dr Oburu Oginga Odinga. She is a qualified accountant and works at the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
Judith maintains a low public profile and has rarely appeared in political or public events. Much of the publicly available information about her comes from statements made by Oburu himself.
Oburu introduced Judith publicly during his brother Raila Odinga’s state funeral at Nyayo National Stadium in October 2025. While introducing her, he identified her as his second wife and said she works at NSSF as an accountant.
Oburu also spoke about his decision to marry Judith later in life, making a light-hearted reference to her role alongside his first wife, Dr Anne Ayoo.
Judith has not been publicly associated with political activities and has generally remained outside the political spotlight surrounding her husband and the wider Odinga family.
Oburu Odinga’s Children
Oburu Oginga Odinga has publicly confirmed that he has seven children, although he has kept details about most of them private.
Among his publicly known children are Elijah Oburu and Jaoko Oburu Odinga.
Oburu has also said that his last-born children are twins.
Jaoko Oburu Odinga
Jaoko Oburu Odinga is the eldest son of Siaya Senator and ODM leader Dr Oburu Oginga Odinga and a nephew of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. He has worked in business and county government before taking up a national government appointment.
Jaoko spent part of his childhood in Zimbabwe, where he attended Voinona Primary School and Voinona Secondary School before joining Prince Edward School in Harare.
He later moved to Canada, where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Accounting and Finance from St Mary’s University in Halifax and graduated in 1997.
Also Read: Oburu Odinga Profile: Education Background, Political Career, Family and Net Worth
After returning to Kenya, Jaoko ventured into business, including trading in cultural artefacts and materials.
Between 2013 and 2022, he served as an Investments and Resource Mobilisation Adviser in the Siaya County Government under Governor Cornel Rasanga. He later served as a County Executive Committee Member for Enterprise and Industry, and later for Roads and Public Works.
Jaoko has also been involved in investment and political advocacy. He chaired the Global Chair of Friends of Baba Africa (FOBA), a lobby group that supported Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission chairperson position.
On April 22, 2025, President William Ruto appointed Jaoko as Special Advisor on Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Livelihoods in the Executive Office of the President.
Elijah Oburu
Elijah Abonyo Oburu, also known as Elijah Bonyo Oburu, is the son of Siaya Senator and ODM leader Dr Oburu Oginga Odinga. He has been involved in business and politics, including an unsuccessful bid for the Kisumu Central parliamentary seat.
Public profiles indicate that Elijah holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from St Mary’s University in Halifax, Canada.
He has been described as a businessman with interests linked to the wider Odinga family’s commercial activities. Corporate records concerning Be Energy and related fuel-supply structures have also linked him to the family’s business interests.
Also Read: Meet Jaoko Oburu, Raila’s Nephew Serving as Ruto’s Special Advisor
Elijah entered elective politics in the 2022 General Election, when he contested the ODM primary for the Kisumu Central parliamentary seat. He lost the nomination to businessman Joshua Oron, who later won the parliamentary seat.
He has also appeared alongside his elder brother, Jaoko Oburu, at political events and in activities supporting candidates and the wider Odinga family’s political interests.
More recently, Elijah has been described as his father’s personal aide and an Economic Adviser to the Siaya County Government.
Compared with his elder brother Jaoko, Elijah has maintained a relatively low public profile, with his name mainly appearing in coverage of family business interests, political activities and his work within the Odinga family’s political circle.
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