Inside Oburu Oginga’s family: His wives and children
By Trizer Lijondo, September 2, 2026Away from his public life, Oburu Odinga has occasionally offered Kenyans a glimpse into the family that remains an important part of his life.
The 82-year-old has previously spoken about being a father of seven children and having two wives, although he has generally kept details about his family away from the public eye.
A father of seven children
Oburu Odinga has previously spoken about his family, revealing in a 2022 interview with a local media station that he is a father of seven children. During the interview, he also spoke about his son Elijah, who was 47 at the time, and said that he had ventured into politics and was seeking an elective position.
The ODM leader also revealed that his youngest children are twins, who were 14 years old at the time of the interview.
Jaoko Oburu is the best-known member of Oburu Oginga’s family.
Despite occasionally speaking about his children, Oburu has largely maintained their privacy. As a result, details about most of his seven children, including their individual lives and careers, remain limited in the public domain.
This has made the few occasions when he talks about his family particularly notable, offering a glimpse of a side of his life that is rarely seen in public.
His two wives
Oburu is married to Dr Ann Ayoo Oburu and Judith Oburu, whom he publicly introduced during the State Funeral Service for his late brother at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on October 17, 2025.
After delivering his tribute, Oburu turned his attention to his family, introducing Ann as his first wife and describing her as the woman who had been with him since his younger years.
He identified her as a doctor and paediatrician. He then introduced Judith as his second wife, noting that she is a qualified accountant who works with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
Adding humour to the moment, Oburu explained why he had married a second wife, saying, “I thought that at my age, I didn’t want Ann to scratch me or massage me, so I brought her a helper.” His light-hearted remarks drew laughter from the mourners and offered a rare glimpse into his family life.
A private family life
Although Oburu has occasionally spoken openly about his marriages and children, much of his family life remains private.
Unlike many public figures whose spouses and children regularly appear in the spotlight, Oburu has largely kept his immediate family away from public attention.
His occasional comments, however, reveal a family man with seven children and two wives, while the limited information available about his children reflects the privacy he has maintained around them.
He was born in 1943. Oburu comes from the well-known Odinga family. His late father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, was Kenya’s first vice president.
Odinga Oginga is the eldest son of Jaramogi and is the brother of Ruth Odinga (Kisumu County Women Rep) and the late Raila Odinga, among other siblings.
Oburu attended the Soviet Secondary School in Moscow, Russia, from 1962 to 1964, where he completed his secondary school certificate.