Raila Odinga, Kenyan political titan and former PM, dies at 80 in India
Odinga suffered a cardiac failure while on a morning walk at an Ayurvedic eye hospital-cum-research centre in Koothattukulam, located in the Ernakulam district of Kerala.
Raila Odinga, the veteran Kenyan opposition leader and former Prime Minister whose decades-long career defined the fight for multiparty democracy in East Africa, died Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in India. He was 80.
Odinga suffered a cardiac failure while on a morning walk at an Ayurvedic eye hospital-cum-research centre in Koothattukulam, located in the Ernakulam district of Kerala.
A towering figure in Kenyan politics, Odinga was often considered political royalty, being the son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, who served as Kenya’s first vice president in Jomo Kenyatta’s administration. Known simply as “Baba” (Father) to his devoted supporters, he cultivated a unique ability to mobilize masses, often leading nationwide demonstrations when complaining about electoral integrity or corruption.
A Career Marked by Opposition and Loss
Despite his immense popularity, Odinga spent the majority of his career as an opposition leader, contesting and narrowly losing the presidency in all five of his bids. Two of those electoral losses resulted in bouts of chaotic unrest across the country.
His final attempt in 2022 saw him narrowly defeated by William Ruto. Although the nation’s highest court upheld the election results, Odinga alleged the outcome had been tampered with and promptly called for a series of protests against the rising living costs and the election result. Dozens of people died in the ensuing unrest that followed his calls.
Champion of Democratic Reform
Beyond the controversies of his presidential campaigns, Odinga’s primary legacy remains his foundational work as a democracy activist. His persistent struggle against autocratic rule helped seal two of the country’s most important political transformations.
He was instrumental in the fight that led to the amendment of Kenya’s constitution in 1991, allowing for multiparty democracy. Nearly two decades later, he was a key figure in the successful push for the comprehensive new constitution in 2010.
Imprisonment and Early Life
Born Raila Amolo Odinga on January 7, 1945, in the western Kenyan town of Maseno, he initially pursued a technical career. He studied engineering in Germany, later lectured at the University of Nairobi, and co-founded his own firm before fully dedicating himself to politics.
His commitment to political change came at a heavy personal cost under the regime of President Daniel Arap Moi. In 1982, Odinga was arrested after being accused of participating in an attempted coup led by air force officers. He was held in prison without trial for six years and was subsequently detained twice more after his initial release.
His final incarceration ended in 1991. Following his release, he helped establish the pro-democracy group, the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD), and was selected as a lawmaker for the Lang’ata constituency in the capital, Nairobi, in the 1992 election, marking the official start of his long legislative career.
