Raila Odinga, Kenya’s Veteran Opposition Leader, Dies at 80

Former Kenyan Prime Minister and veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga has died at the age of 80, a source from his office confirmed to Reuters on Wednesday. Odinga, who had been receiving treatment in the southern Indian city of Kochi, reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest and was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Widely regarded as the face of Kenya’s pro-democracy movement, Odinga spent more than four decades in politics, championing reforms, good governance, and multi-party democracy. Despite contesting the presidency five times without success, he remained one of the country’s most influential political figures.

His career was marked by both triumph and turbulence. Following disputed elections, Kenya experienced deadly unrest, most notably after the 2007 presidential vote, when Odinga claimed victory had been stolen through fraud. The resulting violence left around 1,300 people dead and displaced hundreds of thousands.

Odinga played a central role in Kenya’s political transformation, helping reintroduce multiparty democracy in 1991 and facilitating the adoption of a new constitution in 2010, both landmark achievements that reshaped the nation’s governance. Known affectionately as “Baba” by his supporters, he led the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and remained a persistent challenger to Kenya’s ruling elite across multiple administrations.

In his later years, Odinga served as the African Union’s High Representative for Infrastructure Development, maintaining an active role in regional politics. Tributes have begun pouring in across Kenya and internationally, honoring him as a tireless advocate for democracy and social justice.

He is survived by his wife, Ida, and their children.