Raila Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya and a towering figure in African politics, died on Wednesday at the age of 80, after suffering a cardiac arrest while in India.
Details of His Passing
Odinga collapsed during a walk in Kerala, India, where he was reportedly receiving medical treatment.
He was rushed to Devamatha Hospital (or a hospital in Kochi) but did not respond to resuscitation efforts.
The hospital confirmed he suffered a cardiac arrest.
Earlier reports also mention he was undergoing Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala.
His Political Legacy
Born in 1945 in Kisumu, Kenya, Raila Odinga was the son of Kenya’s first vice president, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
He became a prominent opposition leader, spending years in detention and exile during Kenya’s single-party era under President Daniel arap Moi.
Odinga contested Kenya’s presidency five times over three decades but never succeeded.
Despite never winning, he played a critical role in pushing for democratic reform, including the introduction of multiparty democracy in 1991 and the adoption of a new constitution in 2010.
Earlier in 2025, he had entered into a political pact with President William Ruto, leading to his party’s inclusion in government policymaking and cabinet positions.
Reactions & Implications
His death leaves a crucial vacuum in Kenya’s opposition leadership and may shift the political landscape heading into the next election cycle.
Leaders and citizens from Kenya and abroad have begun pouring in condolences, praising him as a democrat, a unifier, and a voice for reform.
In Kenya, ethnic and political tensions have often played a strong role in electoral contests; Odinga’s passing could intensify jockeying for leadership among opposition groups.
His departure marks the end of an era in Kenyan politics — a country that he strove throughout his life to see evolve toward greater inclusivity, fairness, and democratic accountability.
