NAIROBI, Kenya — He was Tinga to some, Agwambo to others, Jakom to his loyalists, and Baba to millions who saw him as the father of Kenya’s democratic struggle.
Raila Amolo Odinga — the former prime minister, opposition leader, and one of Kenya’s most enduring political figures — has died at the age of 80 while receiving medical treatment in India, local police confirmed Wednesday.
Odinga collapsed during a walk at an Ayurvedic clinic in Kerala and was pronounced dead at Devamatha Hospital shortly after being rushed there.
His passing marks the end of a political era that spanned five decades, defined by resilience, reform, and reinvention — and by the many names that came to define the man behind Kenya’s longest political journey.
Tinga – The Workhorse
“Tinga,” the Swahili word for tractor, became one of Raila’s earliest nicknames — drawn from his party’s symbol in the 2007 elections.
Like the machine itself, the name symbolised his rugged determination, his readiness to plough through obstacles, and his deep appeal to Kenya’s working class.
To many, “Tinga” was the man who refused to stop, no matter how rough the terrain.
It captured the essence of his brand — a populist reformer who drew energy from the people and fought political elites from within and without.
Agwambo – The Unpredictable One
In Dholuo, Agwambo means “the mysterious” or “the unpredictable one.”
This name, perhaps more than any other, summed up Raila Odinga’s political life — full of twists, reinventions, and surprises.
From his days in detention under Daniel arap Moi to his uneasy alliance with Mwai Kibaki in 2008, his handshake with Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018, and later his reunion with Ruto in 2024, Odinga remained an enigma.
Those who tried to predict his next move often found themselves confounded. Agwambo was always a step ahead — unpredictable, yet unmistakably central to Kenya’s politics.
Jakom – The Chairman
Among his supporters, Odinga was fondly called Jakom — a Dholuo term for “chairman.”
The name reflected his leadership roles across decades: at the helm of opposition movements, political parties, and national reform coalitions. Whether chairing a meeting, leading protests, or negotiating power deals, Raila was always in command.
In street lingo, chairman also connotes respect and authority — a nod to how, even outside Parliament, Odinga’s voice carried weight in the national conversation.
Baba – The Father Figure
In later years, “Baba” became the most affectionate and enduring of his names.
To millions of Kenyans — especially younger generations — Odinga was a father figure, a man who embodied sacrifice and perseverance.
The name captured both his paternal warmth and his symbolic role as a political elder whose word guided entire movements.
His followers often chanted “Baba! Baba! Baba!” at rallies — a sound that blended reverence with rebellion. For them, Baba was not just a politician; he was the custodian of hope.
RAO – The Brand
“RAO” — short for Raila Amolo Odinga — emerged as a campaign identity during the 2013 and 2017 elections.
It turned his initials into a bold political brand, emblazoned across posters, songs, and hashtags. The abbreviation was simple but powerful, projecting him as a modern, tech-savvy candidate who could speak to a younger generation of voters.
RAO became a shorthand for defiance and endurance — the man who kept coming back, election after election, no matter the odds.
In political rallies, chants of “RAO! RAO!” echoed like an anthem, uniting his supporters under a symbol of familiarity and faith.
The People’s President
After the disputed 2017 election, Odinga’s supporters gave him a new title — The People’s President.
On January 30, 2018, he took a symbolic oath in Nairobi’s Uhuru Park, declaring himself president after boycotting the repeat election.
The move, controversial and defiant, underscored his lifelong refusal to accept what he saw as injustice.
Even without formal power, the act reinforced his status as the moral authority of Kenya’s opposition and cemented his place in history as the man who never stopped challenging the system.
The Enigma
Political analysts, admirers, and rivals alike often called him The Enigma — a title that captured both his mystique and his contradictions.
He was a revolutionary born into privilege, a populist who dined with presidents, a democrat who could command cult-like loyalty. Even in defeat, Odinga commanded crowds that no other Kenyan politician could match.
His ability to reinvent himself — from a fiery detainee in the 1980s to Prime Minister in 2008 and later elder statesman — made him one of Africa’s most complex political figures.
A Legacy Etched in Many Names
Born on January 7, 1945, to Kenya’s first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Raila inherited a legacy of dissent and courage.
He fought for the repeal of Section 2A, which ended Kenya’s one-party state, endured detention without trial, and helped broker the 2008 power-sharing deal that ended post-election violence.
Though he ran for president five times — in 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022 — he never ascended to State House. Yet few would argue he lost the war for influence.
In life and now in death, Odinga remains a defining figure of Kenya’s political soul — the man with many names, each one telling the story of a nation’s struggle and the spirit of a leader who refused to give up.
