Raila Odinga, Kenyan Politician Who Ushered in Multiparty Democracy, Dies at 80

Raila Odinga, a towering figure in Kenyan politics who served as prime minister and championed multiparty democracy in his country in the 1990s after multiple spells in detention without trial, died on Wednesday while on a trip to India. He was 80. The Devamatha Hospital in Kerala, in southern India, said in a statement that Mr. Odinga died there after he collapsed during a morning walk. He had been treated for diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease, the hospital said.

Key Takeaways:

• Raila Odinga, a pivotal leader in Kenyan politics, passed away at the age of 80, leaving a void in the country's political landscape.
• He was a key figure in championing multiparty democracy in Kenya in the 1990s after being detained without trial multiple times.
• Odinga served as prime minister from 2008 to 2013 and ran for president five times, most recently in 2022.
• His legacy is complex, with some viewing him as a champion of democracy and others as part of the elite who compromised with those in power.
• Odinga's death may strengthen the hand of President William Ruto, who will be up for re-election in 2027.
• The country is observing seven days of national mourning and will hold a state funeral for Odinga.
• Tributes from African leaders poured in, with President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa calling Odinga a "patriotic and selfless leader."
• Odinga's prominence over successive decades helped him gain stature across Africa, a continent where political longevity commands respect.
• He was defeated in the leadership election for the African Union in February and had been backed by Ruto for the position.
• Odinga's wife, Ida, and three children survive him, while his eldest son, Fidel, died in 2015.

Statistics:

• Raila Odinga was 80 years old at the time of his death.
• He was first detained without trial in 1982 and spent six years in detention.
• Odinga was prime minister from 2008 to 2013 and ran for president five times.
• He was defeated in the 2013, 2017, and 2022 presidential elections.
• Post-election violence in 2007 killed more than 1,000 people.
• Odinga was treated for diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease at the time of his death.
• The Devamatha Hospital in Kerala said Odinga was treated at an ayurvedic hospital in Kerala five days earlier before being transferred to their facility.

Sources:

• The New York Times, April 20, 2023
• Associated Press, April 20, 2023
• BBC News, April 20, 2023
• Al Jazeera, April 20, 2023