When Kenya’s political history is told, Raila Amolo Odinga “Baba” will stand out as the man who refused to be silenced. For over four decades, he was a central figure in Kenya’s democratic journey—one who paid a heavy price for insisting that power must be accountable to the people.
Early Life and Political Awakening
Born on 7 January 1945, Raila inherited politics almost by birthright. His father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, was Kenya’s first Vice President and one of the earliest critics of post-independence leadership under Jomo Kenyatta. From him, Raila learned that freedom didn’t end with independence—it had to be defended in governance too.
After studying mechanical engineering in East Germany, Raila returned home to lecture at the University of Nairobi and later joined the Kenya Bureau of Standards. But the classroom and office couldn’t contain his political conscience. The growing authoritarianism of President Daniel arap Moi’s regime drew him into the reform movement.
The Price of Conviction
Raila’s fight for pluralism came at a steep personal cost. In 1982, after a failed coup against Moi, he was accused of involvement and detained without trial for years. He endured torture, isolation, and exile—but came out of it even more determined.
His imprisonment made him both a victim of repression and a symbol of defiance. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he joined the call for multiparty democracy, pushing Kenya toward one of its most important political turning points.
The Father of Multiparty-ism
When Kenya finally re-introduced multiparty politics in 1991, Raila’s persistence paid off. He joined FORD-Kenya and won his first parliamentary seat in 1992. Over the years, he would build, split, and rebuild political parties—FORD, NDP, LDP, and finally the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)—each time keeping alive the idea that power should rotate, not stagnate.
Near the Presidency, Always Central to Power
Raila ran for president five times—1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022. Though he never held the highest office, he came close several times.
In 2007, after disputed elections, the violence that followed forced Kenya into a coalition government, where Raila served as Prime Minister (2008–2013). During that period, he helped oversee reforms that birthed the 2010 Constitution, one of the most progressive charters in Africa, introducing devolution and stronger checks on executive power.
Even in opposition, Raila had influence. He could shake the political establishment with a single rally or calm tensions with a single call for peace. Whether admired or criticized, he was rarely ignored.
Strengths and Shortcomings
Raila’s greatest strength was endurance. Few leaders could lose so many elections yet remain politically relevant. He mastered coalition-building, understood the power of public mobilization, and knew how to speak to Kenya’s frustrations.
His critics, however, accused him of being too confrontational, sometimes inconsistent in alliances, and overly focused on the presidency. But even they would agree that he forced every administration to govern with more caution and accountability.
The Legacy
Raila Odinga leaves behind a Kenya that is freer, more politically aware, and more democratic than the one he inherited. His name is inseparable from the struggle for multipartyism, constitutional reform, and justice for the marginalized.
He didn’t just participate in politics—he reshaped it. His story reminds young Africans that democracy is not a gift handed down by leaders but a fight sustained by citizens.
Raila never became president, but he led movements that redefined the presidency itself.
In his passing, Kenya hasn’t just lost a former Prime Minister or opposition leader. It has lost Baba—a teacher of democracy, a fighter for justice, and a symbol of resilience.
