Fidel Odinga’s ex-wife, Lwam Getachew Bekele, has resurfaced in a fresh legal move to secure the late businessman’s unclaimed assets believed to be held in a local bank. The announcement was made public through a gazette notice dated Friday, October 17, by the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority.
According to the notice, Lwam applied to be the administrator of Fidel’s estate, seeking authority to manage the financial assets he left behind. The Authority explained that anyone wishing to contest her claim has thirty days to file a formal objection. If no challenge is raised within that time, the assets will officially be transferred to her.
Administrators are appointed to take care of property or money belonging to someone who has died. Before being allowed to manage such assets, they must follow specific procedures, including filling out legal forms and obtaining letters of no objection from the deceased’s beneficiaries.
Fidel Odinga, the eldest son of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, married the Eritrean-born Bekele in 2012 during a private but colourful ceremony attended by close family and friends. The couple welcomed a child in 2013, but their marriage later hit turbulent waters.
Barely two years after the wedding, Fidel and Lwam separated, ending their union in 2014. Before marrying Bekele, Fidel had been married to Veronica Wanjiru. Following the divorce, it remained unclear whether he remarried before his untimely death.
Fidel passed away in January 2015 at just 42 years old under mysterious circumstances. His body was found at his home in Nairobi, sparking protests both in the capital and in Kisumu as supporters demanded answers.
He was widely seen as the political heir to his father and was known for his calm yet charismatic personality. His sudden death left the Odinga family and the nation in deep shock.
The latest legal development has revived public interest in the Odinga family’s private affairs, especially following Raila Odinga’s own passing last week. Many Kenyans are now watching closely to see if Fidel’s widow will successfully reclaim the funds that have remained untouched for nearly a decade.
The Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority has confirmed that unless a valid objection is submitted within the notice period, payment will be made to Lwam Getachew Bekele as the rightful administrator of Fidel’s estate.
By Kenyans