
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has died at 80 during a health visit to India, local police confirmed Wednesday. Odinga, the perennial opposition figure, ran unsuccessfully for the presidency five times, most recently in 2022, leaving a lasting political imprint. Affectionately called “Baba” by supporters, he commanded massive followings, especially in western Kenya, and remained a central force in politics.
Indian police said Odinga collapsed while walking with his sister, daughter, and personal doctor at an Ayurvedic clinic in Kerala. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital but was declared dead, according to police additional superintendent Krishnan M.
President William Ruto visited Odinga’s Nairobi home, where supporters wept, as the nation grappled with the shock of his death. AFP journalists reported unrest in Kibera, an Odinga stronghold, while mourners blocked roads in his native Kisumu, expressing grief and anger.
Born January 7, 1945, Odinga spent early years in jail or exile, resisting autocratic rule and fighting for Kenyan democracy. A member of the Luo tribe, he entered parliament in 1992 and repeatedly claimed electoral victories were stolen in later campaigns.
The 2007 election triggered ethnic violence that killed more than 1,100 people, marking a turning point in his political career. Odinga forged alliances with rivals like Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018 and Ruto last year, moves unpopular with some supporters.
His death leaves a vacuum in the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections, with no clear successor able to match his influence. Leaders across Africa, including Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed, expressed condolences, praising Odinga as a visionary, patriot, and defender of democracy.
A hospital spokesman said he experienced breathing difficulties, received CPR, and was rushed to a hospital, but doctors could not save him. Political analysts warn Kenya faces an uncertain path without Odinga’s unifying presence, as alliances crumble and opposition leadership falters.