NAIROBI/KERALA – Kenyan opposition figurehead, Raila Odinga, has died at the age of 80 while on a health visit to India, local police confirmed on Wednesday. The sudden passing of the perennial presidential candidate represents a political earthquake that is expected to profoundly reshape the political landscape of the East African nation ahead of the 2027 general election.
A dominant, mobilising force in Kenyan public life for decades, Mr Odinga collapsed unexpectedly in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Indian police sources informed AFP that the veteran politician was walking with his sister, daughter, and a personal physician when the incident occurred.
“An Indian police security officer and a Kenyan security officer were also with them at the time. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital, but was declared dead,” the police source stated.
A spokesman for the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre in Kerala elaborated, saying Mr Odinga experienced breathing difficulties before collapsing. “He was provided CPR on the spot and, having seen some sign of recovery, he was rushed to the nearest modern hospital. Despite repeated efforts by the medics, his condition deteriorated and the doctors were unable to save him.”
A Formidable Legacy of Struggle
Born on 7 January 1945, Odinga was a central figure in Kenya’s push for multi-party democracy, spending significant periods of his early political life either detained or in exile while fighting the autocratic regime of former President Daniel arap Moi.
A member of the influential Luo tribe, Odinga was famed for his ability to rally huge crowds, particularly from his native western Kenya. However, his long and tumultuous quest for the presidency remained unfulfilled. He ran unsuccessfully on five occasions; in 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and most recently in 2022 repeatedly claiming that he had been cheated of victory in the last four contests.
Despite belonging to one of Kenya’s leading political dynasties—his father served as the country’s first Vice President after independence in 1963—Odinga consistently cast himself as the anti-establishment firebrand, championing grassroots change and electoral reform.
Leadership Vacuum
His death creates an immediate and significant leadership vacuum in the Kenyan opposition. With the country heading toward a potentially volatile campaign period before the 2027 polls, it remains profoundly unclear if any single figure possesses the same galvanising capacity to unite and mobilise opposition forces.
Tributes immediately poured in from across the region. David Maraga, Kenya’s former Chief Justice and a current presidential candidate, expressed his shock at the news, describing Odinga as “a patriot, a pan-Africanist, a democrat and a leader who made significant contributions to democracy in Kenya and in Africa.”
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was also among the first world leaders to react, posting on X: “On behalf of the Government of Ethiopia, I extend my sincere condolences on the passing of former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga. May he Rest In Peace.”
The official announcement from Mr Odinga’s political party is pending, with a team member confirming the death to AFP on the condition of anonymity.
The passing of Raila Odinga marks the end of an era, closing the chapter on one of Africa’s most formidable and enduring political careers.
