Raila Odinga Knew His Time Was Up in 2024, Long-Serving Aide Discloses

Raila Odinga Aware of His Final Chapter, Longtime Aide Reveals
Nairobi — In the months leading up to his death, veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga appeared to sense that his time was nearing, according to his long-serving aide Dennis Onyango. While not visibly ill, Raila reportedly began making preparations for his legacy, including the establishment of institutions and final resting arrangements.
On a February 2024 trip to Germany, Raila revisited schools and his alma mater, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, to ensure his academic and personal history was fully documented. Onyango recalled that Raila meticulously tied up loose ends during these visits while maintaining a rigorous schedule of political and social engagements.
Weeks before his death, Raila discussed plans to support Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University with a new department focused on mining and extractive industries. He also expressed interest in creating a Raila Odinga Foundation, distinct from existing family initiatives, to preserve his legacy. The former premier reportedly shared his wishes regarding his final resting place and emphasized continuity of his family’s heritage institutions.
A legislator from Raila’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) revealed that Raila had hinted multiple times about the possibility of his passing, joking about a family pattern of dying at age 80. Onyango described Raila’s foresight as rooted in the wisdom that comes with age and being African, highlighting the leader’s deliberate focus on legacy planning even in his final months.