A family emergency meeting has been called by the Odinga family following President William Ruto's appointment of Mama Ida Odinga as Kenya’s Ambassador to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

• Raila Odinga Junior, Raila Odinga’s eldest son, expressed surprise and suggested the family was not fully consulted.
• He contacted his uncle, Oburu Odinga, the current ODM party leader and family patriarch, to request an urgent meeting.
• The meeting is scheduled for February 1 to address the "personal and political sensitivities" surrounding the appointment.

President William Ruto has nominated Ida Betty Odinga, wife of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, as Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This appointment acknowledges her lifelong service, particularly her dedication to women’s education and empowerment.

• Ida Betty Odinga's appointment was announced by Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei.
• The President cited Ida Odinga's work as a "testament to the highest ideals of selfless leadership" and her commitment to advancing women’s education and empowerment.
• The statement highlighted her staunch opposition to authoritarianism and injustice, and her championship of freedom of expression and gender equity.