Born on January 7, 1945, in Maseno, Nyanza Province, Raila Odinga was the son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya's first Vice President and a key figure in the country's independence movement. His father's legacy shaped Raila's political consciousness from an early age.
Odinga pursued technical studies in East Germany in the 1960s, training as a mechanical engineer before returning to Kenya to teach and later work at the Kenya Bureau of Standards. His professional career soon gave way to political activism, as he became increasingly involved in the struggle for democracy during the one-party era. He was imprisoned for about seven years during the 1980s for his pro-democracy activism under the one-party regime.
In the 1990s, Odinga was elected Member of Parliament for Lang'ata and emerged as one of the most vocal proponents of multi-party democracy. His persistence positioned him at the heart of Kenya's pro-reform movement, earning both admiration and criticism for his defiance of entrenched political power.
Odinga's first presidential bid came in 1997, marking the beginning of a long series of campaigns for the country's highest office. His 2007 election battle against then-President Mwai Kibaki was one of Kenya's most contested polls, sparking post-election violence that claimed more than 1,200 lives. The crisis was resolved through a power-sharing deal that made Odinga Prime Minister under a coalition government from 2008 to 2013.
During his tenure, Odinga played a crucial role in the formulation and adoption of Kenya's 2010 Constitution, a landmark reform that devolved power and strengthened democratic institutions. Despite further presidential bids in 2013, 2017, and 2022, he never attained the presidency but remained an enduring symbol of opposition and reform.
From 2018 to 2023, Odinga served as the African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa, further cementing his influence on the continental stage.
In 2022, he contested the presidency against William Ruto and challenged the results in court. The outcome was upheld, sparking protests from the opposition.
At the height of Gen Z economic-related protests in 2024, Odinga joined forces with President Ruto to form a broad-based government, resulting in several of his allies being appointed to key positions. In response to growing criticism, he later explained that his decision was motivated by the need to quell potential political instability.
He also campaigned for the African Union Commission Chairperson position in 2024â€"2025 but lost to Mahamoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti.
Raila Odinga is survived by his wife, Ida Odinga, and their children: Rosemary, Raila Jr., and Winnie. His eldest son, Fidel Odinga, passed away in 2015.
Raila Odinga's passing marks the end of an era in Kenyan politics, that of a resilient statesman whose quest for democracy, social justice, and good governance reshaped his country's political landscape.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
