NAIROBI, Kenya — October 15, 2025.
Kenyan opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga has died at the age of 80, according to multiple reports carried by Reuters, The Guardian, and AP News.
A lifelong campaigner for democracy and a central figure in Kenya’s modern political history, Odinga’s passing marks the end of an era that spanned five decades of activism, governance, and opposition leadership.
According to Reuters, Odinga died in Nairobi on Tuesday evening, surrounded by family. The cause of death has not yet been officially confirmed. Kenya’s government has not issued a formal statement, though national broadcasters interrupted regular programming to air tributes and archival footage of his political career. (Reuters)
The Associated Press reported that Odinga, who served as Kenya’s Prime Minister between 2008 and 2013, “remained a towering opposition figure and a symbol of Kenya’s long and turbulent journey toward multiparty democracy.” (AP News)
The Guardian described him as “a central voice for reform, whose pursuit of democracy reshaped Kenya’s political landscape despite repeated electoral defeats.” (The Guardian)
A Legacy Etched in Kenya’s Democratic Struggle
Born in January 1945 in Maseno, Western Kenya, Odinga was the son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga — Kenya’s first Vice President. Educated in East Germany, Raila returned to Kenya in the 1970s and became an industrial engineer before turning to politics.
He rose to national prominence as a fierce critic of the one-party regime under President Daniel arap Moi, enduring detention without trial for nearly a decade during Kenya’s pro-democracy struggles of the 1980s.
Odinga played a key role in the formation of the opposition coalition that helped bring an end to Moi’s rule in 2002 and served as Prime Minister under the power-sharing government that followed Kenya’s 2007–2008 post-election crisis.
Throughout his career, Odinga contested five presidential elections — in 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022 — often alleging electoral malpractice. His political journey inspired admiration and controversy in equal measure, symbolizing both resilience and Kenya’s unfulfilled democratic promises.
“Raila Odinga was more than a politician — he was a movement. His voice carried the frustrations and hopes of millions,” said political analyst Macharia Munene, reflecting on Odinga’s legacy in remarks quoted by The Nation (Kenya).
Mixed Signals and Early Confusion
While major outlets including Reuters, The Guardian, AP, and Financial Times have reported Odinga’s death, some local media and fact-checking organizations urged caution pending an official government statement.
Africa Check published a brief advisory noting that false reports about Odinga’s health have circulated in the past and encouraged the public “to rely on verified announcements from family and government sources.” (Africa Check)
As of this publication, Kenya’s Ministry of Interior has not issued an official statement. The Odinga family is expected to address the nation later today, according to local broadcaster NTV Kenya.
A Nation in Mourning
Across Nairobi, Kisumu, and Mombasa, crowds gathered overnight in candlelight vigils, waving Kenyan flags and chanting “Baba! Baba!” — Odinga’s popular nickname meaning “Father.”
Regional leaders including Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa have sent condolence messages, describing Odinga as “a pan-African democrat who fought tirelessly for justice and inclusion.”
What Happens Next
With Odinga’s death, Kenya’s opposition movement faces a moment of deep uncertainty. His Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has not publicly discussed succession plans, and analysts note that his passing could reshape Kenya’s political alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A state funeral is expected, with details to follow after official confirmation from the family.
