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.
While the source did not provide additional details about the cause of death, it was reported that Odinga, who had been receiving treatment in the Southern Indian city of Kochi, suffered a cardiac arrest on Wednesday and was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Odinga, widely regarded as the face of Kenya’s pro-democracy movement, spent more than four decades in the political arena, championing reforms, good governance, and multi-party democracy.
Despite contesting the presidency five times, without success, he remained a formidable figure and one of the most influential politicians in the country’s history.
His political career was marked by both triumph and turbulence. Twice, following disputed elections, Kenya descended into deadly unrest.
The most violent episode came after the 2007 presidential election, when Odinga claimed he had been denied victory through electoral fraud.
The crisis triggered Kenya’s worst political violence since independence, leaving about 1,300 people dead and forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes.
As a democracy activist, Odinga played a central role in shaping Kenya’s political transformation.
He was instrumental in the reintroduction of multiparty democracy in 1991 and the adoption of a new constitution in 2010, both landmark achievements that reshaped the country’s governance framework.
Odinga, often called “Baba” (Father) by his supporters, led the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and was a constant challenger of the ruling elite, from Daniel arap Moi to Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta, and William Ruto.
His following, especially among the Luo community and younger reformists, made him a symbol of resistance against entrenched power structures.
In his later years, Odinga served as the African Union’s High Representative for Infrastructure Development, a continental role that kept him active in regional politics.
Tributes have begun to pour in across Kenya and beyond, hailing him as a tireless advocate for democracy and social justice.
Odinga is survived by his wife, Ida, and their children.