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Raila Amolo Odinga (1945 – 2025): Kenya Mourns The Passing Of Great Political Leader

By Emman Ozoemena

Political and civic leaders in Kenya and across the world pay tribute to a key figure in its political history, former prime minister, Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo  Odinga, the scion of one of the nation’s founding fathers of Kenya, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

A second generation national leader, Raila carried the torch of liberty and Pan Africanism, which his father’s contemporaries had earlier lighted during the colonial rule in a long drawn battle to liberate Kenya from imperialist rule.

His father, Oginga Odinga in a bid to liberate their nation, Kenya forged a national liberation coalition along with other political leaders including Jomo Kenyatta, to liberate the country from the British colonial rule.

Under the auspicices of the famous Mau Mau movement, which played a significant role in forcing the British to acceed to Kenya’s independence in December, 1963.

Raila served as Kenya’s prime minister from 2008 to 2013, as well as a member of Kenya’s Parliament from 1992 to 2013, and the leader of the main opposition coalitions, National Rainbow Coalition (NRC) and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) at different times, making him one of most consequential leaders in the political history of Kenya.

Popularly known by the soberiquet, Baba by his supporters and admirers, he remained focused throughout his decades-long political career, which spanned over four decades. His political philosophy remained egalitarianism, he was a populist and had mass appeal.

Though, he was unable to actualize his ambition of reaching the Presidency of Kenya, his unmatched tenacity, saw him contesting for the position five times. His last major political outing was in the 2022 presidential election which he lost to President William Ruto, the current Kenya’s head of state. Thereafter, he contested for the Chairmanship of the African Union Commission, though not successful.

His passing on October 15, marked the end of an era in Kenya politics as well as opposition politics.

May his memory be for a blessing Amen.

Ozoemena, a policy analyst is based in Abuja, Nigeria

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