Kenya has lost one of its most enduring voices for justice and reform. Raila Odinga, who spent nearly five decades fighting for democracy—through prison cells, ballot boxes, and power-sharing agreements—passed away at 80 while receiving treatment in India.
NAIROBI, KENYA — Kenya’s former Prime Minister and longtime opposition leader Raila Amolo Odinga has died at the age of 80 after suffering cardiac arrest during medical treatment in India, President William Ruto announced on Wednesday. His passing has plunged the East African nation into mourning for one of its most influential and enduring political figures.
Odinga collapsed during a morning walk at approximately 7:45 a.m. local time near the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre in Kochi, Kerala, where he had been receiving treatment for six days, according to Devamatha Hospital and Indian police officials.
He was accompanied by his sister, daughter, personal physician, and security personnel from both Kenya and India when he experienced breathing difficulties and collapsed. Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at 9:00 a.m. local time (4:22 GMT).
“It is with deep sorrow that I inform the nation of the passing of the Right Honourable Raila Amolo Odinga, our former Prime Minister, Kenya’s foremost statesman, and one of Africa’s greatest sons,” President Ruto said in a televised address from State House, Nairobi. “Kenya, Africa, and the world mourn the passing of a giant of democracy, a fearless freedom fighter, and a tireless champion of good governance.”
National and International Reactions
President Ruto declared seven days of national mourning, ordering the Kenyan flag to fly at half-mast nationwide and at all diplomatic missions abroad. Odinga will be accorded a state funeral with full honors, coordinated by a committee co-chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Odinga’s elder brother, Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga. The Government of India has offered assistance in repatriating his remains, with a delegation led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi departing for India.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who supported Odinga’s 2022 presidential bid, stated: “We have lost a father figure to the nation—a relentless advocate for the people and a son of Kenya. His legacy extends beyond politics; it lives in the peace and progress he helped secure.”
Former Chief Justice David Maraga, a potential presidential contender, described Odinga as “a patriot, pan-Africanist, democrat, and a leader whose contributions to Kenya’s democratic journey will never be forgotten.”
African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who defeated Odinga in the February 2025 election for AUC chairperson, said: “Raila Odinga was a towering figure in Kenya’s political life and a steadfast champion of democracy and people-centered development. His decades-long commitment to justice and reform left an indelible mark on Africa.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow, calling Odinga “a cherished friend of India” and recalling their long personal relationship since Modi’s tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said: “We have lost a brilliant leader, a peace-seeker, and a global African whose influence transcended borders.” Leaders across the continent, including Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and Djibouti President Ismael Omar Guelleh, issued messages mourning Odinga’s death and celebrating his role in advancing African democracy and unity.
Thousands of mourners flooded the streets of Kisumu, Odinga’s political stronghold in western Kenya, waving tree branches—a traditional symbol of mourning—and blowing whistles and vehicle horns in grief. In Nairobi’s Kibera settlement and across the nation, supporters gathered to honor his memory.
“The loss of Raila signifies the loss of a hero,” said Otien Akach, 75, a Kisumu resident. “His contributions to development and democracy will endure beyond his lifetime.”
Life and Legacy
Born on January 7, 1945, in Maseno, western Kenya, Odinga was the son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first vice president under founding President Jomo Kenyatta. His political career spanned more than four decades and was central to the nation’s democratic evolution.
He spent nine years as a political prisoner under President Daniel arap Moi between 1982 and 1991 for opposing one-party rule and advocating multiparty democracy.
His activism drove two landmark reforms: the reintroduction of multiparty politics in 1991 and the adoption of the progressive 2010 Constitution, which devolved power and strengthened democratic institutions.
Odinga contested the presidency five times between 1997 and 2022, alleging electoral irregularities each time. The disputed 2007 election against President Mwai Kibaki sparked Kenya’s worst political crisis since independence, resulting in over 1,300 deaths.
The crisis led to a power-sharing arrangement brokered by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in which Odinga served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013. During this period, he championed constitutional reform and good governance.
Following his final presidential run in 2022, Odinga entered a political cooperation pact with President Ruto in 2025, allowing his Azimio la Umoja coalition to participate in policymaking and secure cabinet representation.
Beyond Kenya, Odinga was influential as the African Union’s High Representative for Infrastructure Development, where he promoted projects such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA). His 2025 bid for the AU Commission chairmanship ended in a narrow loss after seven rounds of voting.
Affectionately known as “Baba” (Father), “Agwambo” (The Mysterious One), and “Tinga” (Tractor), Odinga commanded deep loyalty, especially in western Kenya and among marginalized communities. “Africa has lost a leading voice for peace, security, and development,” Maraga said. “The world has lost a great leader.”
President Ruto has suspended public engagements for the mourning period. Funeral dates and programs will be announced following consultations between the government and Odinga’s family.
His passing leaves a significant leadership vacuum within the opposition, with questions looming over the future of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the Azimio coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Odinga’s body will be repatriated from India by a delegation including Prime Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Minority Leader Junet Mohammed, and his family members. Kenya now prepares for one of the most momentous state funerals in its history.
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