Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has passed away at the age of 80 while receiving medical treatment in India, family sources confirmed.
Indian authorities said Odinga collapsed suddenly while walking with family members and his personal doctor. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
In recent weeks, there had been speculation about his health, though family and political allies denied reports that he was critically ill. Condolences have poured in from leaders across Africa, including Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
A central figure in Kenyan politics, Odinga ran unsuccessfully for the presidency five times, rejecting the results each time and claiming electoral fraud. In 2017, Kenya’s Supreme Court annulled Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory and ordered new elections, though Odinga boycotted the rerun, demanding electoral reforms.
Odinga’s political career was marked by pivotal crises, including the disputed 2007 elections, which sparked nationwide violence, leaving 1,200 dead and displacing around 600,000 people. A power-sharing deal brokered by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan led to a unity government, with Odinga serving as prime minister.
He frequently reconciled with incumbent presidents after contentious elections. Following his 2022 defeat, Odinga joined President William Ruto in a “broad-based government,” a move he defended as necessary for national unity after nationwide protests left dozens dead.
Earlier this year, the Ruto administration supported Odinga’s bid for chairperson of the African Union Commission. Despite strong regional backing, he lost to Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
Odinga inspired a devoted following, particularly in western Kenya, earning nicknames such as “Baba” (Father), “Agwambo” (Act of God), and “Tinga” (Tractor). Renowned as a master strategist and mass mobilizer, he drew massive crowds to rallies and maintained a strong connection with ordinary citizens.
A fierce advocate for democracy and human rights, Odinga was Kenya’s longest-serving political detainee, imprisoned twice under Daniel arap Moi’s one-party rule—from 1982 to 1988 and 1989 to 1991. He was first jailed after an attempted coup in 1982, which propelled him onto the national stage.
Odinga will be remembered for his lifelong struggle for democratic freedoms, his political influence, and his ability to mobilize and inspire millions of Kenyans.
