MONEY WITH NAYLA NEWS TEAM
t’s a moment of profound sadness for Kenya and for Africa. The veteran opposition leader and former Prime Minister, Raila Amolo Odinga, has died at the age of 80 in India, suffering a cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment.
Odinga was a towering, often polarizing, figure whose life was inseparable from the struggle for Kenyan democracy.
The Chronology of a Political Titan
Early Life and Political Awakening (1945–1991):
- Family & Education: Born in 1945, he was the son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first Vice President—a legacy of political struggle he inherited. After studying engineering in East Germany (earning an MSc in Mechanical Engineering in 1970), he returned to a professional career, working at the University of Nairobi and later the Kenya Bureau of Standards.
- Detention & Exile: His pro-democracy activism began in the late 1970s and 80s, during President Daniel arap Moi’s autocratic one-party rule. This led to his most painful years: he was imprisoned without trial for a total of eight years on suspicion of plotting against the government, missing crucial family moments, including the death of his mother. In 1991, to escape a fourth detention, he sought temporary exile in Norway.
The Multi-Party Era (1992–2007):
- The MP: He returned to Kenya and was first elected as a Member of Parliament for the Langata Constituency in 1992, retaining the seat for two decades.
- The Unsuccessful President: He made his first bid for the presidency in 1997, finishing third. Over the next two decades, he would contest the presidency a total of five times (1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022)—a testament to his enduring ambition, even though the ultimate prize always eluded him.
- Shifting Alliances: Known for his political dexterity, he led his National Development Party (NDP) into a merger with Moi’s ruling KANU party, serving as Minister of Energy (2001-2002). He then dramatically broke away to form the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which was pivotal in creating the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) that finally unseated KANU in the 2002 election. He served as Minister of Roads, Public Works, and Housing (2003-2005) under President Mwai Kibaki.
The Apex of Power (2007–2013):
- The Post-Election Crisis: The 2007 presidential election plunged Kenya into its deadliest post-poll violence. Though he claimed to have won, the result was disputed and led to ethnic clashes.
- The Prime Minister: To halt the bloodshed, an internationally brokered peace deal resulted in the creation of a grand coalition government, and in 2008, Raila Odinga became the Prime Minister of Kenya. He served in this role until 2013, when the position was abolished under the new 2010 Constitution, a major achievement he helped champion.
Opposition and Final Battles (2013–2025):
- He continued to lead the opposition, forming various coalitions like CORD, NASA, and Azimio la Umoja.
- In the 2017 election, he successfully petitioned the Supreme Court to nullify the presidential vote—a historic first in Africa—though he boycotted the repeat poll.
- In his final run in 2022, he lost to William Ruto, a result he challenged in court but ultimately pledged to respect.
The Final Days
Raila Odinga’s passing came while he was seeking medical attention. He had arrived six days ago at the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital in Koothattukulam, Kerala, India—a facility he was familiar with, as his daughter had successfully regained her sight there following treatment.
On Wednesday morning, October 15th, the 80-year-old collapsed from a cardiac arrest during a morning walk on the hospital premises. Despite immediate attempts at CPR and being rushed to Devamatha Hospital, he was pronounced dead at 9:52 a.m. Indian time.
His sudden death leaves a major vacuum at the top of Kenya’s opposition, and tributes are flooding in from world leaders, recognizing his decades-long commitment as a champion of democracy and a true African statesman.”
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