Former Kenyan Prime Minister and opposition leader, Raila Odinga, has passed away at the age of 80, family sources have confirmed to the BBC.
Odinga reportedly died on Wednesday while receiving medical treatment at a hospital in India. According to Indian police sources quoted by AFP, he was walking with his family members and personal doctor when he suddenly collapsed. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
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| Raila Odinga has been a towering figure in Kenyan politics |
In recent weeks, speculation had been rife about his health, though his family and close associates dismissed reports suggesting he was critically ill. Following the announcement of his death, political leaders across Africa, including Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, have sent messages of condolence to Kenya and Odinga’s family.
A towering and polarizing figure in Kenyan politics, Odinga was known for his fiery opposition and pro-democracy activism. He ran unsuccessfully for president five times, consistently rejecting election outcomes which he claimed were marred by irregularities and fraud.
He was vindicated after the 2017 presidential election, when Kenya’s Supreme Court annulled the victory of then-President Uhuru Kenyatta over irregularities — a historic first in Africa. However, Odinga boycotted the rerun election, insisting on deeper electoral reforms.
The most contentious of his electoral battles came in 2007, when a disputed vote against Mwai Kibaki triggered one of Kenya’s darkest chapters. The ensuing violence left 1,200 people dead and over 600,000 displaced. The crisis ended following a power-sharing deal brokered by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, which saw Odinga become Prime Minister in a coalition government.
Throughout his career, Odinga’s politics were marked by both confrontation and reconciliation. Despite years of rivalry, he later mended fences with his former opponents — most notably with President William Ruto, after losing the 2022 presidential election. His cooperation led to the formation of a broad-based government that included several of his allies.
Odinga also vied for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission earlier this year, with backing from the Ruto administration and strong regional support. He, however, lost to Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
Fondly called “Baba” (Father), “Agwambo” (Act of God), and “Tinga” (Tractor) by his supporters, Odinga commanded immense loyalty, especially in western Kenya, his home region. Known for his charisma, strategic acumen, and mass appeal, he was widely regarded as a symbol of resistance, reform, and resilience in Kenyan politics.
A former political prisoner, Odinga was Kenya’s longest-serving detainee, spending nearly a decade in detention for his opposition to one-party rule under Daniel arap Moi. His imprisonment, which began after the failed 1982 coup attempt, cemented his reputation as a fearless advocate for democracy and human rights.
Raila Odinga will be remembered as one of Kenya’s most enduring and influential political figures — a man whose struggle, sacrifices, and legacy reshaped the nation’s democratic landscape.