Former Kenyan Prime Minister Ralia Odinga has died aged 80 after battling a brief illness in India. He died of cardiac arrest in Kochi, Kerala, India while there for medical treatment. This marks the end of an era, as news of Ralia Odinga’s death reverberates across the nation.
Background
He was born on 7 January 1945 in Maseno, Nyanza Province, Kenya, into a politically prominent family. His father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, was Kenya’s first Vice President after independence. He was also a key figure in the struggle for Kenyan self-rule.
He attended Kisumu Union Primary School, Maranda Primary, and Maranda High School. People Daily In 1962, he moved to East Germany. There, he studied German at the Herder Institute. Then he enrolled at the Technical University of Magdeburg, where he graduated with a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1970. His educational achievements laid the groundwork for what would become a storied political career, now remembered in the wake of Ralia Odinga’s death.
Political Career
During President Daniel arap Moi’s rule, Raila became politically active. In 1982 he was accused of plotting against the government, detained without trial, and spent six years in prison. He was rearrested multiple times. In total, he spent nearly nine years in detention over the 1980s. He briefly sought refuge in Norway in 1991 before returning to Kenya.
In 1992, after return, Odinga was elected Member of Parliament under FORD-Kenya. Over time he shifted through different political alignments: FORD-K, National Development Party (NDP), KANU, and then in 2005 founded the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) as a major opposition force. His contributions are being revisited in light of Ralia Odinga’s death.
He ran for President of Kenya five times: 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022 to no avail. After the 2007 election, which was widely disputed and followed by violent fallout, Raila Odinga became Prime Minister in 2008. This happened with President Mwai Kibaki in a Grand Coalition Government power-sharing deal, which was brokered by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Prime Ministerial Achievements
During his tenure as prime minister (2008-2013), the 2010 Kenyan Constitution was adopted. This constitution redefined the country’s political, legal, and administrative landscape.
The new constitution introduced devolution. It created 47 county governments to decentralize power and resources. This aimed to reduce corruption and bring development closer to local communities. It also established stronger checks and balances, an independent judiciary, and enhanced protections for civil rights and freedoms.
This reform remains one of the most significant political milestones in modern Kenyan history. Odinga is widely credited for championing it despite political resistance.
Under his tenure, the government launched major infrastructure and economic recovery programs. This included the expansion of the road network, energy investments, and early planning for the Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor. These initiatives aimed at transforming regional trade.
Odinga was instrumental in advocating for youth empowerment and education access, pushing for the strengthening of the free primary education program initiated earlier under the Kibaki administration, and expanding vocational and technical training.
He promoted the establishment of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) to address historical injustices and human rights abuses, and supported police and civil service reforms to rebuild public trust. His tenure further saw progress in press freedom, civil liberties, and anti-corruption campaigns though these remained contested areas due to internal coalition rivalries.
Internationally, Odinga played a key diplomatic role in rebranding Kenya’s image following the 2007–2008 crisis. He represented the country in regional peace talks, strengthened ties with African Union partners, and advocated for greater regional integration within the East African Community (EAC). The legacy of these engagements comes into sharper focus with the news of Ralia Odinga’s death.
