Raila Odinga, towering Kenyan opposition figure, dies aged 80

Kenya in Mourning as Former Prime Minister and Political Titan Raila Odinga Dies
The nation is grappling with the profound loss of one of its most defining political figures, following the announcement of the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. A colossal and often polarizing force in Kenyan politics for decades, Odinga passed away, sending waves of grief and reflection across the East African nation. His death marks the end of an era for a country where he was a central character in the struggle for multi-party democracy and the modern political landscape, revered by his supporters as a champion of the people and a formidable opponent by his rivals.
Odinga’s political journey was inextricably linked with Kenya’s own turbulent history. The son of the nation’s first vice-president, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, he inherited a legacy of opposition politics and spent years detained as a political prisoner during the Daniel arap Moi era. His relentless push for democratic reforms cemented his status as a pro-democracy icon. In the 2000s, he served as Prime Minister in a grand coalition government, a power-sharing agreement brokered to end the devastating post-2007 election violence—a period that highlighted both his immense influence and the deep ethnic and political fissures within the country.
Tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum and beyond, underscoring his monumental impact. President William Ruto, a longtime political adversary, is expected to address the nation, hailing Odinga as a freedom fighter and a key pillar of our nation’s democracy. From the streets of his stronghold in Kibera to the halls of power, an atmosphere of mourning has taken hold. For his millions of supporters, known as the Azimio la Umoja brigade, the loss is deeply personal; they have lost their Agwambo (the mysterious one) and Jakom (chairman), a leader they believed truly fought for the common citizen.
The immediate future is set to be dominated by national mourning and preparations for a state funeral, an honour befitting his stature. However, his passing creates a significant vacuum within Kenya’s opposition, leaving questions about who can command its diverse factions. Furthermore, it removes a central figure from the nation’s political equation just years before the next general election. As Kenya comes to terms with this seismic loss, the enduring legacy of Raila Odinga will undoubtedly be his indelible mark on the nation’s relentless, and often fraught, march toward democracy.