Kenya’s veteran opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has died in Kerala at the age of 80 while on a health visit to India. Police in Thrissur said Raila Odinga collapsed during a morning walk at an Ayurvedic clinic and was rushed to Devamatha Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
For Kenya, it feels like the end of an era. Odinga wasn’t just a politician, but he was the country’s political conscience, the man who spent half a century fighting for democracy and never stopped challenging power. Fondly called Baba (father ), he ran for president five times in the year 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017 and 2022, always coming close, never quite crossing the finish line.
A life built on defiance
Born in 1945 to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first vice president, Raila inherited rebellion early. In the 1980s and ’90s, he became the face of resistance to Daniel arap Moi’s single-party rule. His push for multi-party democracy turned him from agitator to national hero.
The 2007 election changed everything. Odinga claimed victory was stolen, sparking riots that left over 1,100 people dead. It scarred Kenya and defined him. Through it all, he remained unbroken, a voice that spoke truth even when it hurt.
In his final political act, Odinga surprised many by forming an understanding with his old rival, President William Ruto which was a truce that shocked allies but signalled his wish for stability over strife. It was a quieter phase in a stormy career, marked by ill health but unshaken influence.
Even in his later years, Odinga’s presence could still fill stadiums and stir the streets. His words carried weight because they came from decades of unfinished battles.
A farewell that shook a nation
Back home, news of his death triggered grief and chaos. Shops in Kibera, his Nairobi bastion were closed as a sign of mourning. In Kisumu, his home turf, crowds wept and blocked roads. President Ruto visited his family, calling him “a statesman who redefined our democracy.”
Across Africa, tributes poured in. Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed called him “a patriot and democrat,” while Djibouti’s Ismail Omar Guelleh hailed him as “a visionary leader who inspired generations.”
Raila Odinga may never have sat in the president’s chair, but his shadow looms large over Kenyan politics. His was a life of defiance which was restless, unfinished and unforgettable.
