Orengo opens up on his relationship with Raila’s little-known younger brother
The relationship between the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Siaya Governor James Orengo is well-documented in the country.
From rivals on some occasions to becoming political baddies who have stayed around each other for over two decades for mutual political benefits, the fight for Kenya’s democracy and tolerance.
The history stretches to include Raila’s elder brother, Oburu Odinga, and their father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, but unbeknownst to many, the former prime minister had a younger brother who passed on in his 30s.
Relationship
In an interview aired by a local TV station on Monday, May 5, 2025, Orengo opened up on his relationship with Raila’s little-known brother, Agola Odinga.
Agola was the third son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Mary Juma Odima, who passed on around 1983. Agola’s mother was one of the four wives of the late Jaramogi. Others were Gaudencia Adeya, Susan Agik, and Betty Adongo, who bore him over 15 children.
Orengo noted that they met in Ambira Primary School, where he was supposed to learn more about the Dholuo language.
After school, Orengo noted that he could still meet Agola in Kisumu and exchange pleasantries even though Raila’s younger brother was busy those days.
At that time, the late Jaramogi Odinga was the vice president, Orengo elaborated.
“We became very good friends. I would visit him in Kisumu, and at that time, Jaramogi was still vice president when I first knew Agola,” Orengo told the local TV station.
“We would go to Kisumu and meet him. He was a very busy man but had occasions when we would exchange pleasantries,” the Siaya governor added.
After moving to Nairobi to advance his education, Orengo did not clearly explain if he kept in touch with Agola.
Jail and eventual death
Very little information is public regarding the life of Agola. However, Raila, in his 2013 biography, The Flame of Freedom, briefly revealed his younger brother’s tribulations.
He wrote in the book that Agola was jailed for knocking down a pedestrian, and while in prison, he developed complications and eventually died after battling diabetes.
“It was a rainy night with poor light and limited visibility. A man staggered into the road in front of Agola’s vehicle and was then hit. Agola picked the badly injured man and put him in the pickup and drove him to the Kakamega Hospital,” Raila captured in the biography.
“Agola suffered from diabetes that afflicts many of the males in our family, including Jaramogi, myself and Oburu, but Agola’s condition was worse. While others have had this challenge as we have grown older, Agola developed diabetes when he was young. He used to inject himself daily.”
“He was released, but by now the damage to his health had been done. He was very weak when friends and relatives took him to our Lakeside home to visit Jaramogi. Agola was then taken to Kisumu Hospital. He died soon afterward still in his 30s.”
