The late Raila Odinga
Published on 16th Oct 2025.
NAIROBI, Kenya
Raila Amolo Odinga, Kenya’s longtime opposition leader, former Prime Minister, and the founding father of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), died on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, at the age of 80.
A towering figure in the nation’s political history, Odinga was more than a politician—he was a symbol of resilience, a voice for the voiceless, and a relentless champion of democracy, justice, and equality.
For over four decades, his name was synonymous with the struggle for multiparty democracy, constitutional reform, and the fight against authoritarianism.
From the crowded streets of Kibera to the halls of Parliament, Odinga was known simply as “Baba”—father to a political generation and a nation yearning for change.
> “He suffered with the people. He walked with the people. He never gave up on the dream of a better Kenya,” said one supporter during a candlelight vigil held in Nairobi. “Now his voice is silent, but his legacy will echo for generations.”
A Life Marked by Struggle and Sacrifice
Born on Jan. 7, 1945, in Maseno, Raila was the son of Kenya’s first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
He did not ride on privilege. Instead, he walked the hard road—detained without trial, vilified, and repeatedly robbed of electoral victory, yet never broken.
His life was a testimony to endurance. Imprisoned for his role in the 1982 attempted coup, exiled for his beliefs, and beaten down by political betrayal, Odinga rose again and again—each time with deeper conviction.
He was a man who bore the weight of a nation’s hope on his shoulders, and even in defeat, taught his followers to fight with dignity and courage.
The People’s Prime Minister
In 2008, following the disputed 2007 election and the violence that followed, Odinga agreed to share power with President Mwai Kibaki in a historic peace deal.
He became Kenya’s second Prime Minister, a role through which he pushed for reforms and spearheaded the 2010 Constitution—a legacy etched into the nation’s legal and moral fabric.
Though he never ascended to the presidency, Odinga remained a moral compass for many, often described as the “president the people never had.”
“Leadership is not about a title. Raila led from the trenches, from the rallies, from the courtroom and from the pulpit,” said a longtime ODM member. “He was never afraid to speak truth to power.”
A National Father, a Continental Force
Odinga’s influence extended beyond Kenya’s borders. He was a Pan-Africanist, a respected voice in regional diplomacy, and a statesman whose opinion mattered on the world stage.
He stood against corruption, tribalism, and inequality—not just in Kenya, but across Africa.
Through every election cycle, despite personal losses, he modeled the long game of democracy: that change is not always won at the ballot, but through unwavering belief and collective action.
Family, Faith, and Legacy
Raila Odinga is survived by his wife, Ida Odinga, their children, and grandchildren—alongside millions of Kenyans who considered him family in spirit.
He leaves behind a political movement that spanned generations, and a legacy rooted in sacrifice, vision, and unyielding commitment to justice.
> “He gave everything to this country—his youth, his strength, his tears, his time,” said his son, Raila Junior. “He dies a free man, and he leaves us a freer Kenya.”
A Nation Mourns, But Hope Lives On
As Kenyans lower their flags and raise their candles, the grief is heavy—but so is the gratitude. Baba is gone, but his dream of a united, inclusive, and democratic Kenya remains alive.
His final journey may have ended, but for those who marched beside him, the mission continues.
“Even in death, Raila Amolo Odinga remains a flame. He burned for justice. He burned for Kenya. And that fire will never die.”
