Kenya is mourning one of its most iconic political figures.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has died at the age of 80.
Odinga passed away on Wednesday while receiving treatment at a hospital in India.
Recently, there had been growing speculation about his health, reports that were consistently dismissed by both his family members and political allies.
A towering figure in Kenyan politics, Odinga ran unsuccessfully for the presidency five times, each time rejecting the results, claiming that victory had been stolen from him.
His persistence was vindicated in 2017, when Kenya’s Supreme Court annulled President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory and ordered a fresh election—a first in Africa.
Although he boycotted the rerun, Odinga later reconciled with his political rivals, including current President William Ruto, in what he termed a broad-based government aimed at fostering national unity.
Known affectionately as “Baba” and “Tinga,” Raila Odinga’s political career spanned decades of struggle, including multiple detentions during the rule of Daniel arap Moi.
He leaves behind a legacy of resilience and reform in the fight for democracy and multiparty politics in Kenya.
