Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has long been known as one of Kenya’s most outspoken politicians. How he kept his apparent relationship with former IEBC Commissioner Roselyn Akombe out of the public eye until his recent revelation is the mystery that has left tongues wagging.
Speaking to guests and political leaders who had visited to condole with the family, Onyonka disclosed that Akombe is his wife, a revelation that quickly sparked widespread discussion on social media.
“You will see all my 12 children in Kisii. Their mothers are known. What many people do not know is that Roselyn Akombe is my wife,” the senator said, adding that Akombe had been close to his late mother and had even assisted in her medical care abroad.
The revelation surprised many Kenyans, given that neither Onyonka nor Akombe had publicly hinted at a relationship despite their prominence in public life.
Onyonka is among Kenya’s longest-serving legislators, having won elective office in every general election since 2007.
He first entered Parliament in 2007 on a PDP ticket representing Kitutu Chache Constituency. Following the split of the constituency in 2013, he was elected MP for Kitutu Chache South under ODM before later serving on a FORD-Kenya ticket.
In 2022, he successfully contested the Kisii Senate seat on an ODM ticket.
Akombe joined the IEBC in 2017 after serving with the United Nations and became one of the commission’s most visible officials during the 2017 General Election period.
She later resigned shortly after the Supreme Court nullified the presidential election and ordered a repeat poll. Despite her brief tenure, she became widely recognised for her calm communication style and frequent media briefings.
While Onyonka remained active in combative opposition politics, Akombe largely maintained a public presence through policy discussions and commentary on social media, especially on X.
Onyonka’s mother, Mama Teresia Nyaboke Omoke, died on April 29, 2026, at the age of 81 while receiving treatment in Nairobi. The senator said she will be laid to rest on May 15, when he also plans to formally introduce his extended family publicly.
