Addis Ababa, October 15, 2025 (FMC) – Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has passed away at the age of 80 while receiving medical treatment in India, family sources confirmed.
Odinga was a towering figure in Kenyan politics and a seasoned political mobiliser, having run unsuccessfully for the presidency five times. He disputed the results on each occasion, often claiming that his victories had been unfairly taken. In 2017, Kenya’s highest court annulled Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory and ordered a fresh poll, but Odinga boycotted the rerun, citing the need for electoral reforms.
Throughout his political career, Odinga was known for reconciling with incumbent leaders following contentious elections. After his 2022 presidential bid, he joined President William Ruto’s broad-based government, helping secure key positions for several of his allies. He described the move as a step toward national unity in the wake of nationwide protests the previous year, which had seen dozens of demonstrators killed in clashes with security forces.
Earlier this year, Odinga sought to become chairperson of the African Union Commission. Despite strong regional backing, he was defeated by Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
Odinga’s death marks the end of an era in Kenyan politics, leaving behind a legacy of political activism and efforts to bridge divisions in the country.