Lwam Getachew Bekele, the ex-wife of the late Fidel Odinga — son of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga — has applied to take control of Fidel’s unclaimed financial assets currently held by a local bank.
The announcement was made public through a gazette notice by the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA) dated Friday, October 17, 2025. In the notice, Bekele is listed among several people seeking to be appointed as administrators of the estates of deceased individuals whose assets remain unclaimed.
If her application is successful, Bekele will be responsible for managing and distributing Fidel’s wealth as per Kenyan succession laws. The Authority has given a 30-day window for anyone with a counterclaim or objection to come forward.
“Unless an objection is filed within thirty (30) days from the date of this notice, payment will be made to the aforementioned person,” the UFAA stated.
According to the process, any claimant must first obtain a letter of no objection from other family members or beneficiaries before taking full control of a deceased person’s estate. This ensures transparency and prevents family disputes over inheritance.
Fidel Odinga married his Eritrean partner, Lwam Bekele, in 2012 in a colorful ceremony attended by family and close friends. The couple welcomed a son in 2013. However, their marriage faced challenges, and they separated in 2014 — just a year before Fidel’s untimely death.
Before marrying Bekele, Fidel had been married to Veronica Wanjiru, though that relationship also ended before his second marriage.
Fidel passed away in January 2015, aged 42, under mysterious circumstances. His lifeless body was discovered at his Nairobi home, triggering public outcry and protests in Nairobi and Kisumu. Many Kenyans viewed him as a possible political heir to his father, Raila Odinga.
The Odinga family, including Raila and Ida Odinga, laid their son to rest in January 2015 at their home in Bondo. Over the years, they have occasionally visited his gravesite to honor his memory.
The renewed attention to Fidel’s estate comes just a week after the death of Raila Odinga, who passed away on October 15, 2025. With the Odinga family in mourning, the legal move by Bekele has reignited public discussion over Fidel’s estate and the question of inheritance rights following divorce and death.
As the 30-day notice period continues, it remains to be seen whether any member of the Odinga family or other claimants will contest Bekele’s application.
Lwam Getachew Bekele, Fidel Odinga’s ex-wife, has applied to manage his unclaimed assets through the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority, ten years after his death. The move has drawn attention due to the Odinga family’s ongoing mourning following Raila Odinga’s passing earlier this month.
