Mimi ndio girlfriend wa kwanza wa Richard! Ruth Odinga Sparks Laughter at Onyonka Burial

Ruth Odinga brought a wave of laughter to a sombre day in Kisii when she joked about her high school connection with Senator Richard Onyonka during his mother’s burial.

The Kisumu woman representative shared that in another world she might have been his wife and the mother of his children. Her light-hearted words cut through the mourning at Mama Teresa Nyaboke Omoke’s final sendoff.

Hundreds gathered in Kisii County on Friday to honour the late matriarch. Family members, political leaders, and local residents filled the venue with both tears and unexpected chuckles.

Ruth stood up to speak and took the moment in a direction few expected. She looked toward Onyonka and reminded everyone of their shared past.

“I have seen you have got so many kids here and there are also mothers, but the one who started life with you when I was a young girl at Asumbi Girls and you were in Kisii Boys was yours truly Ruth Odinga,” she said.

She added with a smile that because she was too young back then, in another situation she would have children standing there today. The crowd erupted in laughter as she spoke.

Those who attended described the speech as a welcome break in an otherwise heavy occasion. Funerals in Kenya often mix deep sorrow with stories from the past, and Ruth’s contribution fit right into that tradition.

She traced their relationship back to their school days, painting a picture of youthful days long before either entered politics. Onyonka listened with the rest, and reports say he took the teasing in good spirits.

The moment stood out because Ruth and Onyonka represent different parts of the broader ODM family. Their public interaction at this personal family event showed warmth despite any larger political differences.

People in the audience clapped and cheered as she finished her remarks. Many later said it humanised the leaders they usually see in serious settings.

Mama Teresa Nyaboke Omoke raised Senator Onyonka and his siblings with strong values. Family tributes painted her as a dedicated mother whose influence shaped leaders in the community.

Ruth’s presence at the burial highlighted ongoing ties between the Kisumu and Kisii regions, areas with deep political and social connections. Leaders from across parties turned up to support the Onyonka family during their loss.

Ruth has built a reputation for speaking her mind, whether on serious policy matters or in moments like this. Her words carried the easy familiarity of someone who has known Onyonka for decades.

It reminded people that behind the public roles, these figures share personal histories that go back to their teenage years. Asumbi Girls and Kisii Boys represent an earlier Kenya, where young people formed bonds that sometimes lasted a lifetime even if paths diverged.

One mourner who spoke afterward said the speech brought everyone closer. “It was good to laugh a little. Life has its serious sides but also these memories,” the person shared.

As the service drew to a close, the Onyonka family expressed gratitude to all who came.

Ruth Odinga sparks laughter at Senator Richard Onyonka’s mother’s burial in Kisii as she jokes about their high school romance, saying she could have been his wife and borne his children. A heartwarming moment from the Kisii sendoff.