Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s wife, Ida Odinga, sailed through her vetting session before the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations following her nomination as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The session, chaired by Belgut MP Nelson Koech, lasted about 40 minutes and was marked by a largely cordial atmosphere, with several lawmakers offering congratulatory remarks rather than tough questions. This prompted Koech to remind members to focus on the vetting process.
“It sounds like, and I have to caution members, it is a vetting exercise, and you will have an opportunity as a committee to do your congratulatory messages later if you do approve. For this point, let’s restrict ourselves to the vetting process,” Koech said.
He added, “Ask the question. Mama Ida can take any question. She’s prepared and well-versed with all your questions. I think at this point, let’s just focus on asking the questions that we came to do.”
The reminder came after National Assembly Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo declined to question Ida, saying she would not subject her to what she termed a “political spectacle.”
“I will not ask Mama Ida any question. Her track record speaks for itself. She has served this country diligently, particularly in education and women empowerment. I do not wish to reduce her lifetime of service to a checklist,” Odhiambo said.
The Suba North MP described Ida as “a woman of integrity, resilience and unquestionable commitment to public service,” adding that leadership should not be reduced to partisan politics.
“We must be careful not to turn this process into a trial by politics. Leadership is about service, and she has demonstrated that over decades,” she noted.
Kiambu Woman Representative Anne Wamuratha also commended Ida before posing questions on how she plans to promote international cooperation on environmental issues, particularly in line with the Paris Agreement.
“Maybe I would also first congratulate Mama on your appointment at this position. The other thing is that you came in very prepared, as the local Kenyans would say, ‘umetuuzia uoga’ by the way you presented yourself, and we really want to appreciate you and your appointment,” Wamuratha said.
Other committee members focused on how Ida intends to align Kenya’s socio-economic priorities with UNEP’s environmental agenda.
“How will you promote an integrated approach that aligns environmental diplomacy with Kenya’s socio-economic development priorities and sustainable development goals, SDGs?” asked Baringo Central MP Joshua Kandie.
Kamkunji MP Yussuf Mohammed raised concerns about the challenges facing the United Nations. “UN is facing a serious crisis at the moment. And as a country which hosts the only United Nations agency dealing with environment in the global south, what actions would you take, and what kind of advocacy would you bring to your job to reverse this decline in the United Nations and to increase the resources?” he asked.
In her responses, Ida Odinga highlighted her experience in mobilizing both local and international resources, pledging to use her networks to strengthen Kenya’s leadership in global environmental governance.
She also declared her personal net worth at Sh500 million, clarifying that it does not include the wider Odinga family’s assets.
“This is an interesting question. There are things that belong to me Ida and there are things that belong to the Odinga family, but my net worth is about Sh500 million,” she told the committee.
Ida also paid tribute to her husband, Raila Odinga, acknowledging his influence on her personal and professional growth.
“He played a huge role in the person I am today,” she said.
The committee is expected to present its report to the National Assembly for approval in the coming days.
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