Kenyan political giant Raila Amolo Odinga has died.The former Prime Minister was 80 years old. He passed away on Wednesday, 15 October 2025, in Kochi, India.
Sudden Passing
According to reports, the prominent politician suffered a cardiac arrest. This occurred during his morning walk. He was rushed to Devamatha Hospital in Koothattukulam, but he was pronounced dead.
Mr Odinga had been undergoing treatment in Kochi. His daughter, Rosemary, was also receiving treatment at Sreedhareeyam Hospital in Thodupuzha.
Early Life and Detention
Born on 7 January 1945, Odinga was the son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. His father was the first Vice President of Kenya. Odinga belonged to the Luo ethnic group.
He studied in East Germany after attending high school in Kenya. In 1970, he graduated from the Technische Hochschule of Magdeburg. He earned a certificate in Welding.
Upon returning to Kenya, he founded Standard Processing Equipment Construction & Erection Ltd in 1971. This engineering company was later renamed East African Spectre.
Odinga was a strong advocate for government reforms in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1982, he was arrested and charged with treason.
This followed an alleged connection to the failed coup attempt against President Daniel Arap Moi. He was subsequently detained without trial for six years.
Odinga was later charged with treason and detained without trial for six years.
Rise to National Leadership
After his final release from detention, Odinga joined the push for multi-party democracy. In 1992, he was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Langata Constituency. He held this seat until 2013.
Odinga served in Moi’s cabinet as Energy Minister from 2001 to 2002. He was also elected Secretary General of the KANU party.
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The 2007 presidential election was highly disputed. The results declared Mwai Kibaki the winner, leading to significant unrest and violence. A power-sharing agreement was brokered in February 2008. This deal created the post of Prime Minister.
Odinga was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Kenya on 17 April 2008. He became the second person in Kenya's history to hold this position. The post was abolished after his term ended in 2013.
Five Presidential Bids
Odinga became nationally known for his persistent campaigns for the presidency. He ran five times, in 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022. None of these attempts were successful.
He repeatedly alleged electoral fraud following his losses. Following the annulment of the 2017 presidential results by the Supreme Court, Odinga staged a self-swearing-in ceremony as the "people's president" in 2018.
Soon after, he and President Uhuru Kenyatta announced a political "handshake" to cool tensions.
Odinga's fifth presidential bid in 2022 saw him garner 48.85 percent of the vote. He finished second to William Ruto.
Beyond national politics, Odinga served as the African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development from 2018 to 2023. He was known by several nicknames, including "Baba" and "Agwambo".
Early this year, Raila Odinga’s quest for the chairpersonship of the African Union Commission (AUC) came to an end. Despite a promising start, Odinga failed to secure the crucial two-thirds majority needed to clinch the prestigious position, leaving Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf to emerge victorious.
This defeat raised important questions about Odinga’s future in continental leadership and the evolving dynamics of African politics.
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