By Kelvin Kimoni
Raila Amolo Odinga was born on 7 January 1945 at the Anglican Church Missionary Society Hospital to Mary Juma Odinga and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. His father, Jaramogi, was Kenya’s first vice president under President Jomo Kenyatta.
Raila began his education at Kisumu Union Primary, later joining Maranda Primary and Maranda High School, where he studied until 1962. His father then sent him to Germany, where he attended the Herder Institution before enrolling at Magdeburg Technical University. He graduated in 1970 with a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Professional Journey
Upon his return to Kenya in 1970, Raila worked as a lecturer in the Engineering Department at the University of Nairobi.
A year later, he founded the Standard Processing Equipment Construction and Erection Limited, later renamed East Africa Spectre — the only company in Kenya that manufactures liquid petroleum gas cylinders.
In 1974, he joined the Kenya Bureau of Standards as a group manager and rose to deputy director in 1978, a position he held until 1982.
Detention and Political Rise
After the failed coup attempt of 1982 against President Daniel Arap Moi’s government, Raila was arrested and detained without trial for six years, accused of involvement in the plot. He was released in February 1988 but detained again later that same year, only to be released in June 1989.
When Kenya reintroduced multiparty democracy in 1991, he joined the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD), founded by his father. Raila later moved to FORD-Kenya before forming the National Development Party (NDP) in 1994.
The Political Journey
Raila made his first presidential bid in the 1997 General Election, finishing third but retaining his Lang’ata parliamentary seat.
Between 2001 and 2002, he served as Minister for Energy under President Moi’s administration.
He later founded the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which became one of Kenya’s most influential political parties.
In 2008, following the disputed 2007 elections, Raila entered a power-sharing agreement with President Mwai Kibaki, becoming Kenya’s second Prime Minister under the grand coalition government.
During his tenure, he championed the 2010 Constitution, infrastructure development, and the devolution framework that reshaped Kenya’s governance.
The Handshake and Regional Role
In 2018, Raila made headlines after the historic “handshake” with President Uhuru Kenyatta — a moment that eased political tensions and marked a new chapter of national unity.
He was later appointed as the African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development, where he pushed for regional connectivity and integration across Africa.
Family and Personal Life
Known fondly as “Baba,” Raila was not only a political icon but also a mentor and family man. He was married to Ida Odinga, and together they were blessed with four children, including Rosemary and Winnie Odinga. He was also the brother to Oburu Odinga.
The Final Chapter
Raila Amolo Odinga passed away on 15 October 2025, at the age of 80, while undergoing treatment at Devamatha Hospital in India. His passing marked the end of an era for a man who dedicated his life to Kenya’s democracy, unity, and progress — leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered for generations.
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