Wiper Party leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka has called on Kenyans to embrace deliberate planning, drawing lessons from the late Beryl Odinga’s work in urban development, as the blueprint for transforming Kenya’s cities into orderly, efficient, and humane spaces.
In a statement on Saturday, December 6, 2025, during Beryl's burial, Kalonzo noted that Kenya could only achieve the level of development seen in Singapore through careful planning, disciplined governance, and attention to infrastructure, transport, housing, and environmental management, stating that Beryl's professional life offered a perfect blueprint.
“As we gather to honour our sister, Beryl Achieng Odinga, we remember not only her warmth and intellect, but also her profound contribution to urban planning and sustainable development.,” Kalonzo said.
“Beryl understood something that Kenya must urgently embrace: That cities do not grow by accident; they grow by design. Her work consistently emphasised the principles of order, functionality, dignity, and beauty in urban spaces.”
Kalonzo stated that Kenya must adopt the kind of planning ethos that guided Beryl’s professional life, if the country truly desires to become "the Singapore we often hear about – a nation of efficiency, world-class infrastructure, and orderly urban centres."
Great nations are built on deliberate planning, not improvisation, said Kalonzo, adding, "We must plan our transport systems, housing, public spaces, water and sanitation, and environmental management with the same clarity of thought and discipline she advocated for."
“Her legacy challenges us to rethink how we plan our major towns — Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, and beyond — so that we can build cities that are not only productive, but humane.”
During his speech at the burial, Kalonzo also called for justice for past injustices. Musyoka said the country must confront past abuses, arguing that the search for justice cannot be separated from the painful experiences of those who stood with Raila Odinga during the 2023 and 2024 protests.
Speaking directly to CS Opiyo Wandayi, Kalonzo stressed that unresolved issues in the NADCO report must be addressed, particularly for the youth killed during protests in 2023 and 2024.
“Tulikuwa na ye katika NADCO… One of the things we say, kwamba wale watoto waliuawa in 2023, over 73 of them… ata kabla ya Gen Z in 2024, ni lazima watoto hawa walipwe rithaa,” he said.
He made one of the most powerful statements of the day, recalling attempts on his life and Raila Odinga’s during the 2023 political crisis.
“You know… I’m waiting to see justice done. Because Raila na mimi karibu tuuawe na Martha Karua in 2023. And our people died. So we cannot… tusije tukakumbatia vitu ambavyo vita kuja kudhulumu the values,” Kalonzo said.
Kalonzo said the Odinga family’s values had guided the opposition for decades and must not be abandoned. He praised the unity within ODM, Wiper, and their allies, arguing that their cooperation had held the government to account.
Kalonzo said the opposition would continue to push for justice for victims of the 2023 and 2024 protests, alongside demands for full implementation of the NADCO report. He ended his remarks by reaffirming his long-standing bond with the Odinga family.
“The values that hold us together are so deep that they cannot be wished away… May the good Lord rest the soul of our sister Beryl in eternal peace.”
