Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, in his autobiography, The Flame of Freedom expressed startling details of how a former Member of Parliament (MP) used his sister, Beryl Odinga, for political mileage.
In a damning revelation, Raila maintained that the former Gem MP, Otieno Ambala, carefully schemed his way into his sister's heart, fuelled by his unquenchable political ambition.
"This very arrogant man manipulated my sister who was freshly out of school into an affair, and later on marriage," an excerpt of Raila's autobiography disclosed.
He also divulged that Ambala took advantage of the fact that Beryl was deeply in love with him to bulldoze his way into the family, in order to secure a political seat.
Raila's father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and his brother, Oburu Odinga, were also against Ambala's intended matrimonial union but were forced to cede, following pleas by Beryl on his behalf.
"Jaramogi, Oburu, and I could see right through him and his machinations but Beryl was blinded by love and we were forced, very, very reluctantly, to go along with her wishes," a section of Raila's autobiography disclosed.
Ambala reportedly presented himself during his first introduction to his future in-laws with a team of political lobbyists, ready to lay out his future ambitions and Jaramogi's blessing regarding his interest in the Gem parliamentary seat.
"We did not like him at all and saw him as the consummate opportunist," Raila remarked.
As his sister remained adamant on her position, the Odinga's reluctantly backed his 1979 bid, which he then ended up bagging by a landslide, mostly due to Jaramogi's open endorsement.
Raila went on to provide a disheartening account of Ambala's abusive relationship with his sister, which only worsened after he made it to the National Assembly.
Their relationship spiralled into unchartered territory forcing Beryl to move out, with Raila and the rest of the family advising her to relocate to Zimbabwe in order to escape Ambala, who kept harassing and practically stalking her.
He eventually tracked her to her new country of residence, where she had taken their two daughters, Auma & Chizzy, and kick-started custody proceedings that left Beryl crying helplessly in Raila's arms after the MP was granted custody during the hearing.
Ambala, who went on to serve as assistant minister for culture, died on June 9, 1985, with reports maintaining that he collapsed as a result of an apparent heart attack in Kidiaga prison, Kisumu.
He had been jailed in connection to the murder of former Gem MP, Horace Ongili Owiti, who defeated Ambala in the 1983 general election.
