NAIROBI, Kenya – Raila Amolo Odinga, one of Kenya’s most consequential and enduring political figures, has died, marking the end of an era in the country’s struggle for democracy, justice, and national unity.
Born on January 7, 1945, in Maseno, Kisumu County, Raila was the son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first Vice President and a towering independence hero.
From his father, he inherited not just a storied name, but a deep sense of duty to fight for freedom and fairness — ideals that would define his tumultuous yet iconic life.
From Maseno to Magdeburg: Early Life and Education
Raila’s education journey began at Maranda and Kisumu Union primary schools, later joining Maseno School for his secondary studies. He then pursued mechanical engineering in East Germany, attending the Technical University of Magdeburg.
It was during his years abroad that he was drawn to socialist ideals and principles of social justice — philosophies that would later underpin his political vision for Kenya’s economic equality and inclusive governance.
Returning home in the early 1970s, he taught at the University of Nairobi before venturing into business, founding East African Spectre, a pioneering gas cylinder manufacturing company.
His success was remarkable at a time when few indigenous Kenyans owned such enterprises, breaking barriers in a racially stratified economy.
Defiance and Detention
Raila’s life took a dramatic turn after the 1982 failed coup against President Daniel arap Moi’s regime. Accused of involvement, he was detained without trial for nearly a decade.
The years behind bars — marked by isolation and torture — did not break him. Instead, they deepened his resolve to challenge dictatorship and push for multiparty democracy.
When Kenya finally lifted the one-party system in 1991, Raila emerged as one of its fiercest champions.
It was this resilience that earned him the moniker “Agwambo” — the mysterious one — reflecting his ability to endure and reinvent himself through Kenya’s most volatile political storms.
Political Rise and Legacy
Elected MP for Lang’ata in 1992 under Ford-Kenya, Raila’s political journey spanned more than three decades.
He held key cabinet positions, including Minister for Energy (2001–2002), where he spearheaded sector reforms, and Minister for Roads, Public Works and Housing (2003–2005), overseeing landmark infrastructure projects.
His highest office came in 2008, when he became Prime Minister in a Grand Coalition government following Kenya’s post-election violence — a historic power-sharing deal with President Mwai Kibaki that helped restore stability.
Despite contesting the presidency five times — in 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022 — victory at the ballot remained elusive. Yet, his relentless pursuit of reform cemented his status as a moral force and a voice for the marginalised.
Under his leadership, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) grew into one of Kenya’s most influential political parties.
The Handshake and the Bridge Builder
In 2018, Raila made a stunning gesture of reconciliation by shaking hands with his long-time rival, President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The now-famous “Handshake” ushered in a new era of political calm, birthing the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) — a reform blueprint that sought to address ethnic divisions, corruption, and electoral injustices.
Later, Raila entered into a cooperation agreement with President William Ruto, paving the way for a Broadbased Government that included opposition leaders — yet another demonstration of his enduring belief in national unity over partisanship.
A Pan-African Visionary
Raila’s influence extended far beyond Kenya’s borders. As the African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development, he championed the vision of a connected continent through transport and trade networks.
In 2024, he made an ambitious bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship, a race he ultimately lost to Djibouti’s candidate — an outcome that underscored the shifting dynamics of continental politics.
The Man, the Myth, the “Baba”
To his millions of supporters, he was Baba — a father figure and a liberator whose political courage gave voice to the voiceless.
To his critics, he was a polarising figure whose confrontations often unsettled the political order. But to all, he was an undeniable giant — a man whose struggles and sacrifices reshaped Kenya’s democratic trajectory.
Raila often said, “I have been detained, beaten, vilified, and cheated, but I have never stopped believing in Kenya. One day, justice must prevail.”
He is survived by his wife Ida Odinga, and their children Rosemary, Raila Jr., and Winnie. His firstborn son, Fidel Odinga, passed away in 2015.
Raila Odinga’s life was a tapestry of resilience, sacrifice, and vision — a testament to one man’s unrelenting belief that Kenya could, and must, be better.
