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.

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.

If Kenya truly desires to become the Singapore we often hear about - a nation of efficiency, world-class infrastructure, and orderly urban centres — then we must adopt the kind of planning ethos that guided Beryl’s professional life.

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. Great nations are built on deliberate planning, not improvisation.

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.

As we lay Beryl to rest, may her life remind us of the power of service, the beauty of planning, and the necessity of honouring those who uplift our nation.

May her memory be a blessing to the Odinga family and to all of us who believed in a better, more orderly, and more just Kenya.

Finally, I extend heartfelt wishes of peace and goodwill to all Kenyans during this holiday season.