By BigEyeUg Team
Kenyan politics lost one of its most enduring figures on Wednesday, October 15, when Raila Odinga passed away at the age of 80. Reports indicate that he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during a morning walk at an Ayurvedic treatment facility in Kerala’s Ernakulam district in India.
The Final Moments
Raila had been in India for Ayurvedic therapy and collapsed while walking on the premises of the treatment centre. He was swiftly taken to a private hospital in Koothattukulam, where medical staff pronounced him dead at 7:22 am local time. His body remains at the hospital as officials and family coordinate next steps.
The news was widely covered by international media, confirming his death as a major development in African politics.
Political Life and Legacy
Raila Odinga’s journey in Kenyan politics spanned over four decades, during which he became emblematic of the struggle for democratic reforms and opposition rights.
- Early Struggles and Imprisonment
Born in January 1945, Odinga entered the political scene in the early 1980s, aligning himself with voices critical of then-President Daniel Arap Moi. His activism led to his arrest in 1982; he was placed under house arrest for seven months, and later detained without trial for six years on treason charges. He was released in 1988 by order of President Moi.
In 1991, fearing further reprisals, he fled Kenya for Norway. He returned in early 1992 and joined the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD). - Electoral Politics and the Rise to Prominence
In the 1992 election, Odinga was elected MP for Lang’ata on a FORD Kenya ticket. He contested the presidency in 1997, finishing third, but retained his parliamentary seat. In 2002, he joined the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and partnered with Mwai Kibaki under the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) to defeat Moi’s party.
However, tensions between Odinga and Kibaki arose. After the contentious 2007 election, which led to widespread post-election violence, a power-sharing agreement mediated by Kofi Annan established a grand coalition. Odinga was appointed Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013. - Presidential Bids and Later Years
Odinga contested for president in 2013 and 2017 but was defeated both times by Uhuru Kenyatta. In 2022, he unsuccessfully challenged William Ruto.
In February 2025, Odinga sought the African Union Commission chairpersonship but was defeated by Djibouti’s candidate, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
Throughout his life, Odinga was often at the forefront of struggles for constitutional reforms and electoral justice. His efforts contributed to Kenya’s adoption of multiparty democracy in 1991 and the passage of a new constitution in 2010.
