Nairobi (ANN)- Thousands of people mourned the death of the former prime minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga, who died in India. Many African leaders and other world leaders have spoken about his death

Odinga was a popular and active leader and he and his father were a prominent family in Kenyan politics, but they both became friends and tried to fail until Odinga failed four times in his bid for leadership, and some of the results elections were due to rabloody violence.

However, the failure was due to the western politics that Raila Odinga and his father opposed, while instead the West supported Kenyata and Ahura Kenyata who are from the largest ethnic group in Kenya.

Odinga and his father believed in Africanism against Western principles.

Here is a comprehensive overview of Raila Odinga, a central and defining figure in Kenyan politics.

Raila Odinga is a prominent Kenyan politician before his death in a hospital in India this week. and he wanted to continue to be an active political leader.

He is often referred to by his nickname “Agwambo” (the mysterious one) or his initials “RAO.

Key Political Profile

· Full Name: Raila Amolo Odinga
· Born: January 7, 1945 (in Maseno, Kenya)
· Political Party: Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)
· Title: Former Prime Minister of Kenya.

Political Career and Significance

Raila Odinga’s career is a mirror of modern Kenyan history, marked by struggle, protest, and high-stakes politics.

1. Prisoner and Democracy Activist: Like his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga (Kenya’s first Vice-President), Raila was a fierce critic of the one-party state under President Daniel arap Moi. He was imprisoned for almost a decade (from 1982 to 1988) without trial for his role in an alleged coup attempt.
2. Kingmaker and Government Insider: After multi-party politics was restored, he became a powerful minister under President Mwai Kibaki, playing a key role in his 2002 election victory.
3. The 2007 Election and Post-Election Violence: He ran for president in 2007 against incumbent Mwai Kibaki. The disputed results led to widespread ethnic and political violence, resulting in over 1,000 deaths.
4. Prime Minister (2008-2013): To end the violence, a power-sharing agreement was brokered, creating the position of Prime Minister for Odinga. This period of a “Grand Coalition Government” brought stability but was also marked by political tension.
5. Perennial Presidential Candidate: Odinga has run for the presidency five times (1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, 2022). The 2017 election was particularly dramatic; he boycotted the repeat election after the Supreme Court nullified the initial poll, a historic first in Africa.
6. The “Handshake” (2018): In a surprising move, Odinga reconciled with his 2017 rival, President Uhuru Kenyatta, in an event known as “The Handshake.” This ended a period of bitter political animosity and aimed to foster national unity, with Odinga advocating for constitutional reforms (the “Building Bridges Initiative” or BBI).

Current Status (as of late 2023/early 2024)

· Raila Odinga remains the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the de facto leader of the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
· He continues to be a vocal critic of the current government under President William Ruto, who defeated him in the 2022 election.
· He has led several public protests against the government’s policies, particularly concerning the high cost of living.

 

Raila Odinga has had serious health scares. Most recently, in August 2023, he fell ill during a public event and was rushed to the hospital. This event caused widespread concern and prayer vigils across the country, but he recovered fully.

Raila Odinga former Prime Minister, and remains he was one of the most influential and consequential political figures in Kenya. before his death in a hospital in India this week.

Written by Arraale M. Jama, a freelance journalist and human rights activist.