Kenya is mourning the death of Raila Odinga, the country’s former Prime Minister and one of its most influential political figures, who has died at the age of 80.
Family sources confirmed that Odinga passed away on Wednesday while receiving medical treatment in India. His passing follows weeks of speculation about his health, which close relatives and political allies had previously downplayed.
Tributes have poured in from across Africa, with leaders including Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressing condolences and praising Odinga’s lifelong dedication to democracy and justice.
A towering figure in Kenyan politics, Odinga shaped the nation’s post-independence landscape for more than four decades. Known for his charisma and resilience, he ran unsuccessfully for the presidency five times, consistently challenging electoral outcomes he believed were flawed.
He was vindicated by Kenya’s highest court after the 2017 elections, when it annulled Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory and ordered a fresh vote, a historic first in Africa. However, Odinga boycotted the rerun, demanding comprehensive electoral reforms.
The 2007 disputed election, in which he claimed victory over then President Mwai Kibaki, plunged Kenya into its worst political crisis. Widespread violence erupted across the country, resulting in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the displacement of nearly 600,000 others.
To end the turmoil, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan brokered a power-sharing agreement, leading to the creation of a unity government in which Odinga served as Prime Minister.
Despite never attaining the presidency, Odinga remained a powerful voice for reform and a symbol of opposition politics admired by supporters for his persistence and vision, and respected even by rivals for his impact on Kenya’s democracy.
