Sombre mood in Kenya, East Africa region and the whole Africa at large , following the passing away of Raila Odinga one Kenya’s experienced and respected leader.
He passed away on Wednesday, while doing an early morning walk in India hospital where he has been receiving treatment.
Born on January 7, 1945, in Maseno, Kisumu County, Odinga was the son of Kenya’s first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. A trained engineer and longtime advocate for democracy, Raila Odinga spent over four decades at the heart of Kenyan politics.
He first rose to prominence in the struggle for multi-party democracy in the 1980s and 1990s, enduring years of detention without trial for his activism against the one-party rule of the time. His resilience and reformist stance earned him both admiration and controversy across the political spectrum.
Odinga served as Kenya’s Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013 following a power-sharing agreement that ended the country’s post-election violence. During his tenure, he was credited with championing constitutional reforms, infrastructure development, and efforts to promote national unity.
A five-time presidential candidate, Raila Odinga remained a central figure in Kenyan politics well into his later years, often positioning himself as the voice of reform and accountability.
