Lwam Bekelle Moves to Claim Fidel Odinga’s Unclaimed Assets Days After Raila’s Death

Nairobi, Kenya — In a development that has reignited public interest in one of Kenya’s most prominent political families, Lwam Getachew Bekelle, the widow of the late Fidel Odinga, has formally moved to claim unclaimed financial assets left behind by her husband, nearly a decade after his sudden death.

The application, revealed through a gazette notice issued by the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority on October 9, 2025, comes just days after the passing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Fidel’s father, adding an unexpected layer of timing to what is otherwise a routine legal procedure.

According to official records published in Gazette Notice No. 15129, Lwam Getachew Bekelle has applied to be recognized as the administrator of unclaimed assets registered under Fidel Castro Odinga’s name at Gulf African Bank Limited.

The UFAA notice confirms that Bekelle is seeking control of these dormant financial holdings as part of her continued role in managing her late husband’s estate.

Fidel Odinga, the eldest son of Raila Odinga, died unexpectedly in January 2015 at the age of 41.

His death sent shockwaves through Kenya’s political establishment, where he had been widely regarded as a potential political heir to his father’s legacy. He left behind his Ethiopian-born widow, Lwam, and their young son.

The exact value and nature of the unclaimed assets have not been disclosed publicly, though such cases typically involve dormant bank accounts, uncollected dividends, or other financial instruments that remained inactive following the account holder’s death.

The Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority, established under the Unclaimed Financial Assets Act of 2011, is mandated to trace, safeguard, and facilitate the return of billions of shillings in unclaimed funds across Kenya’s financial institutions.

The late Fidel Odinga, son and widow Lwam Bekele.

Under the regulatory framework, the UFAA has provided a 30-day objection period from the date of publication, during which any party with a legitimate claim or interest may file a counterclaim. If no objections are raised within this window, the Authority will proceed with the formal transfer of the assets to Bekelle.

This is not the first time the administration of Fidel’s estate has attracted legal attention.

Following his death, Lwam Bekelle and Ida Odinga, Fidel’s mother, were involved in a legal dispute over the administration of his estate.

The matter was eventually resolved through an out-of-court settlement, allowing Bekelle to assume her role as administrator.

The timing of this latest development, coming just days after Raila Odinga’s death, has not gone unnoticed, though there is no indication that the two events are connected beyond coincidence.

The UFAA routinely publishes gazette notices as part of its statutory obligations, and the timing likely reflects the administrative processes involved in tracing and notifying claimants of unclaimed assets.

For the Odinga family, already navigating the national mourning period following Raila’s death, the resurfacing of Fidel’s estate matters serves as a poignant reminder of past losses.

The family, which has been central to Kenya’s political narrative for generations, continues to capture public attention even in private legal affairs.

The Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority plays a critical role in Kenya’s financial ecosystem, managing unclaimed wealth that often goes unnoticed by rightful heirs or beneficiaries.

Through structured legal processes and public notifications, the agency ensures transparency and accountability in asset recovery, a service that has become increasingly important as more Kenyans become aware of dormant funds held in banks, insurance companies, and investment institutions.

As the 30-day objection period runs its course, Lwam Bekelle’s application represents another step in the decade-long process of settling Fidel Odinga’s estate.

For the Odinga family and the wider Kenyan public, it is yet another chapter in the enduring legacy of a man who left too soon, and a family whose story remains inseparable from the nation’s own.