Former Prime Minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga, a prominent figure in African politics, passed away on Wednesday following a cardiac arrest while receiving Ayurvedic treatment in Koothattukulam, Kerala’s Ernakulam district.
Odinga, who was the opposition leader, collapsed during a morning walk at the Ayurvedic health facility and was quickly transported to a private hospital, where he was declared dead at approximately 9:52 AM, according to a spokesperson from the Ayurvedic eye hospital.
As a significant player in Kenyan politics, Odinga’s death is likely to create a substantial leadership gap within the political opposition as the country approaches the 2027 elections. Born on January 7, 1945, he was the son of Kenya’s first vice president after gaining independence in 1963. A member of the Luo community, Odinga dedicated a considerable portion of his life to politics, facing exile and spending eight years in prison due to his pro-democracy activities, yet he never achieved his lifelong goal of becoming president.
His political career began in 1992 when he was elected to parliament. Over the next three decades, he contested the presidency five times— in 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022—each time unsuccessfully. He accused electoral fraud in the last four elections and led mass protests following the controversial 2007 elections, which resulted in Kenya’s most severe political violence since independence, causing approximately 1,300 deaths and displacing hundreds of thousands. The 2017 election also triggered significant unrest when the Supreme Court annulled the initial results, leading Odinga to boycott the rerun, deeming it unfair.
Throughout his lengthy political journey, Odinga significantly influenced Kenya’s democratic evolution, advocating for two critical reforms: the establishment of multiparty democracy in 1991 and the adoption of a new constitution in 2010. Most recently, in March, he formed a political alliance with President William Ruto, allowing his opposition coalition, Azimio la Umoja, to engage in major policy discussions and obtain cabinet positions.
The news of Odinga’s passing was reported by various local outlets, marking the end of an era for Kenyan politics.
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