Ruth Odinga’s Secret Family Life Emerges, Married to Ghana Royal Family Since 1989

The private family life of Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has attracted public attention following reports that she has been married to Nana Busia, a member of Ghana’s royal family, since 1989.

Ruth, the younger sister of the late former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and daughter of Kenya’s first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, has largely kept details of her marriage and children away from public attention for more than three decades.

According to accounts attributed to close family sources, Ruth married Nana Busia in 1989. Her husband is reportedly connected to Ghana’s royal family and related to the country’s former Prime Minister, Kofi Abrefa Busia.

The couple is said to have four children together. Their family life remained largely private until 2025, when Ruth reportedly introduced her two sons to the public during a family function in Kisumu. The appearance surprised some Kenyans who were unfamiliar with that aspect of her personal life.

Her firstborn son is known as Sankara Amolo, also referred to as Sankara Raila Busia or Sankara Odinga. According to the account, he was named after Thomas Sankara, the late revolutionary leader of Burkina Faso whose Pan-African ideals were admired by members of the Odinga family.

Her younger son, Nyabola Agola, was reportedly named in honour of Ruth’s late brother, Ngire Omuodo Agola. Ruth is said to have explained that the name was intended to preserve her brother’s memory within the family.

The couple have reportedly lived in Kenya for decades, mainly in Kisumu and Nairobi’s Milimani area, despite Nana Busia’s Ghanaian royal connections.

The reported revelation has generated mixed reactions online. While some social media users have questioned whether the family maintains connections with Ghana, others have defended Ruth’s decision to keep her marriage and children out of the public spotlight.

Beyond the renewed interest in her private life, Ruth is reportedly considering a bid for the Kisumu governorship in the 2027 general election, potentially challenging incumbent Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o. Claims of possible presidential ambitions have also circulated, although further confirmation would be needed.

The discussion has also prompted debate about whether a politician’s family background should influence public perceptions of their leadership credentials. However, the reported marriage itself does not establish anything about Ruth’s eligibility for public office, which is governed by Kenya’s applicable electoral laws.

For now, the attention surrounding Ruth’s family highlights the contrast between her public political role and the private life she has largely kept away from public scrutiny.

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