Opposition Leader Raila Odinga on Thursday mourned the death of former Nairobi mayor Margaret Wambui, President Uhuru Kenyatta's eldest sister, who he termed as his "adopted sister".
In a statement, Raila indicated that his late dad, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, adopted Margaret when her father, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, had been arrested and detained by colonialists making her part of the extended Odinga family.
The former Prime Minister also stated that Margaret had been a link between the Odinga's and the Kenyatta's fostering love between the two families despite their political affiliations.
"We recall that in the course of her father’s detention, Margaret was adopted by Jaramogi, making her part of our extended family as we grew up. Over the years, she remained a bridge between our two families. We knew her as a loving and deeply caring lady who towered over Kenya’s landscape with humility and decency," Raila stated
The Opposition leader further noted that his family had known Margaret for a long time dating back from the days she was a freedom fighter to when she became the first and only female Mayor of Nairobi.
"As a family, we have had a long history with Margaret and her family from her days as a freedom fighter, through her father, the late President Jomo Kenyatta’s detention and her rise into a towering figure in Kenya’s landscape who ended up being the first and only female Mayor of Nairobi," he noted
Raila further stated that although his "adopted sister" Margaret was gone, her place was still preserved in the history of the nation and offered profound gratitude for all that she had done for the country.
The opposition leader indicated that his family would remember Margaret's family in prayer and wished them strength at the moment of loss.
Margaret Wambui is reported to have died yesterday evening at her Nairobi home in Lavington estate at the age of 89.
The deceased was the eldest daughter and second born of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and first wife Grace Wahu.
Margaret served as the first woman mayor of Nairobi City from 1970 to 1976. She also served as Kenya's Representative to the United Nations from 1976 to 1986 after which she was involved in politics and advocating for the interests of women.
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