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Raila Odinga

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Raila Odinga

Raila Amolo Odinga (7 January 1945 – 15 October 2025) was a Kenyan politician who served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Langata Constituency from 1992 to 2013. He was also the leader of Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Party. Odinga ran for President of Kenya five times, with none of his attempts being successful. Each time, Odinga alleged electoral fraud. In 1997, Odinga finished third as the candidate of the National Development Party (NDP). In 2007, he ran again for the presidency under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and lost to Mwai Kibaki. In 2013, 2017, and 2022, Odinga was the runner-up as a candidate for the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD), National Super Alliance (NASA), and Azimio la Umoja, respectively. After his loss, Odinga filed for petition against President-elect William Ruto at the Supreme Court of Kenya. The court decided against him, and Odinga pledged to respect its ruling. In February 2024, he announced his candidacy for the African Union Commission Chairperson but was defeated by Mahamoud Ali Youssouf in the February 2025 ballot.

Infobox

Chair
Moussa Faki
Preceded by
Philip Leakey
President
Daniel arap Moi
Deputy
Musalia Mudavadi Uhuru Kenyatta
Succeeded by
Joash Olum
Born
Raila Amolo Odinga (1945-01-07)7 January 1945 Maseno, Colony and Protectorate of Kenya
Died
15 October 2025(2025-10-15) (aged 80) Koothattukulam, Kerala, India
Party
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (before 1992) Forum for the Restoration of Democracy – Kenya (1992–1994) National Development Party (1994–2002) Kenya African National Union (2000–2002) Liberal Democratic Party (2002–2005) Orange Democratic Movement (2005–2025)
Other political affiliations
Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (2012–2017) National Super Alliance (2017–2021) Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition (2022–2025)
Spouse
Ida Odinga (m. 1973)
Children
4 (including Rosemary and Winnie Odinga)
Parent
Oginga Odinga (father)
Relatives
Oburu Odinga (brother) Ruth Busia Adhiambo Odinga (sister) Akinyi Wenwa Oranga (sister) Beryl Achieng Odinga (sister)
Education
Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg
Website
Official website

Tables

· Honours and awards › Honorary degrees
University of Nairobi
University of Nairobi
University
University of Nairobi
Country
Kenya
Honour
Doctor of Laws
Year
2008
Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University
University
Florida A&M University
Country
United States
Honour
Honorary degree
Year
2012
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology
University
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology
Country
Malaysia
Honour
Doctorate of Leadership in Social Development
Year
2012
University
Country
Honour
Year
University of Nairobi
Kenya
Doctor of Laws
2008
Florida A&M University
United States
Honorary degree
2012
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology
Malaysia
Doctorate of Leadership in Social Development
2012
· External links
Preceded byPhilip Leakey
Preceded byPhilip Leakey
National Assembly (Kenya)
Preceded byPhilip Leakey
National Assembly (Kenya)
Member of the National Assembly of Kenya for Langata 1992–2013
National Assembly (Kenya)
Succeeded byJoash Olum
Party political offices
Party political offices
National Assembly (Kenya)
Party political offices
First
First
National Assembly (Kenya)
First
National Assembly (Kenya)
NDP nominee for President of Kenya 1997
National Assembly (Kenya)
Party dissolved
New political party
New political party
National Assembly (Kenya)
New political party
National Assembly (Kenya)
ODM nominee for President of Kenya 2007, 2013, Aug 2017, Oct 2017, 2022
New political alliance
New political alliance
National Assembly (Kenya)
New political alliance
National Assembly (Kenya)
CORD nominee for President of Kenya 2013
National Assembly (Kenya)
Alliance dissolved
Azimio nominee for President of Kenya 2022
Azimio nominee for President of Kenya 2022
National Assembly (Kenya)
Azimio nominee for President of Kenya 2022
Political offices
Political offices
National Assembly (Kenya)
Political offices
Preceded byFrancis Masakhalia
Preceded byFrancis Masakhalia
National Assembly (Kenya)
Preceded byFrancis Masakhalia
National Assembly (Kenya)
Minister for Energy 2001–2002
National Assembly (Kenya)
Succeeded bySimeon Nyachae
Preceded byWilliam Cheruiyot Morogo
Preceded byWilliam Cheruiyot Morogo
National Assembly (Kenya)
Preceded byWilliam Cheruiyot Morogo
National Assembly (Kenya)
Minister of Roads, Public Works and Housing 2003–2005
National Assembly (Kenya)
Succeeded bySoita Shitanda
VacantTitle last held byJomo Kenyatta 1963
VacantTitle last held byJomo Kenyatta 1963
National Assembly (Kenya)
VacantTitle last held byJomo Kenyatta 1963
National Assembly (Kenya)
Prime Minister of Kenya 2008–2013
National Assembly (Kenya)
VacantTitle next held byMusalia Mudavadi 2022 as Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya
Preceded byUhuru Kenyatta
Preceded byUhuru Kenyatta
National Assembly (Kenya)
Preceded byUhuru Kenyatta
National Assembly (Kenya)
Leader of the Opposition 2013–2025
National Assembly (Kenya)
Succeeded byVacant
Diplomatic posts
Diplomatic posts
National Assembly (Kenya)
Diplomatic posts
Preceded byElisabeth Tankeuas Commissioner of Trade and Industry
Preceded byElisabeth Tankeuas Commissioner of Trade and Industry
National Assembly (Kenya)
Preceded byElisabeth Tankeuas Commissioner of Trade and Industry
National Assembly (Kenya)
African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development 2018–2025
National Assembly (Kenya)
Succeeded byVacant
National Assembly (Kenya)
Preceded byPhilip Leakey
Member of the National Assembly of Kenya for Langata 1992–2013
Succeeded byJoash Olum
Party political offices
First
NDP nominee for President of Kenya 1997
Party dissolved
New political party
ODM nominee for President of Kenya 2007, 2013, Aug 2017, Oct 2017, 2022
New political alliance
CORD nominee for President of Kenya 2013
Alliance dissolved
Azimio nominee for President of Kenya 2022
Political offices
Preceded byFrancis Masakhalia
Minister for Energy 2001–2002
Succeeded bySimeon Nyachae
Preceded byWilliam Cheruiyot Morogo
Minister of Roads, Public Works and Housing 2003–2005
Succeeded bySoita Shitanda
VacantTitle last held byJomo Kenyatta 1963
Prime Minister of Kenya 2008–2013
VacantTitle next held byMusalia Mudavadi 2022 as Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya
Preceded byUhuru Kenyatta
Leader of the Opposition 2013–2025
Succeeded byVacant
Diplomatic posts
Preceded byElisabeth Tankeuas Commissioner of Trade and Industry
African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development 2018–2025
Succeeded byVacant

References

  1. The Standard
    https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001535001/raila-odingas-sister-beryl-achieng-dies
  2. Daily Nation
    https://nation.africa/kenya/news/ruto-honours-raila-chief-of-the-order-of-the-golden-heart-5237780
  3. "Profile: Raila Odinga"
    https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/02/201322216228573605.html
  4. raila-odinga
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130218214305/http://www.raila-odinga.com/biography
  5. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21587054
  6. News24
    https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/news/kenya-elections-raila-odinga-defeated-for-the-fifth-time-20220816
  7. The Conversation
    https://theconversation.com/odinga-is-running-his-fifth-presidential-race-why-the-outcome-means-so-much-for-kenya-180605
  8. The Standard
    https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/politics/article/2001431478/raila-odinga-to-run-for-presidency-in-2022-general-election
  9. "We respect the Supreme Court judgement but disagree with it – Raila Odinga"
    https://www.pd.co.ke/inside-politics/respect-supreme-court-judgement-raila-odinga-148049/
  10. Associated Press
    https://apnews.com/article/african-union-commission-new-leader-djibouti-4441f23a6e8861b5efd4bb3653a40a6d
  11. www
    https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2014/7/9/profile-raila-odinga
  12. USA Today
    https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-02-28-4157951089_x.htm
  13. The Star
    https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/infographics/2025-10-15-raila-amolo-odinga-who-was-he
  14. Daily Nation, 9 December 2007: Raila Odinga: I’m the bridge Archived 2 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
    http://politics.nationmedia.com/inner.asp?fs=1&sid=520
  15. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c15p3k9kxkeo
  16. Newsweek Web Exclusive, 22 January 2008: The Man Who Would Be President Archived 29 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
    http://www.newsweek.com/id/97058
  17. "Tale of Raila's Dramatic Church Ordeal During Baptism"
    https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/42834-tale-railas-dramatic-church-ordeal-during-baptism
  18. goodreads
    https://goodreads.com/book/show/20427134-the-flame-of-freedom
  19. The Standard, 5 November 2007: ODM promises smooth transition if it wins Archived 12 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
    http://allafrica.com/stories/200711050379.html
  20. BBC News
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8033376.stm
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