NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has died at the age of 80, family sources have confirmed to Vivid Voice News.
Mr. Odinga passed away on Wednesday while receiving medical treatment at a hospital in India. His health had been the subject of speculation in recent weeks, though both family members and political allies had previously refuted reports suggesting he was critically ill.
Indian newspapers Mathrubhumi and The Hindu first reported the news on Wednesday morning, saying Odinga suffered cardiac arrest during a morning walk at the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre, where he has been under treatment for the last five days.
A spokesman for the facility told this publication that Mr. Odinga experienced some breathing difficulties and collapsed at around 07:45 am. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital, but his condition deteriorated.
A monumental and highly influential figure in Kenyan politics, Mr. Odinga ran unsuccessfully for the presidency five times. Following each electoral defeat, he consistently rejected the official results, often alleging that the victory had been wrongfully taken from him.
Throughout his extensive political career, Mr. Odinga inspired a deeply passionate and loyal following, particularly in his native western Kenya. His supporters affectionately referred to him by several monikers, including “Baba” (Father), “Agwambo” (Act of God), and “Tinga” (Tractor), the latter derived from his party’s symbol during the 1997 elections.
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He was widely respected as a master strategist and mass mobiliser, known for his ability to draw enormous crowds to his political rallies and connect profoundly with ordinary citizens.
Mr. Odinga’s legacy is defined by his resolute fight for democratic freedoms and human rights. A former political prisoner, he holds the record for being Kenya’s longest-serving detainee.
His struggle against the one-party dictatorship of Daniel arap Moi led to two periods of detention: first from 1982 to 1988, and again from 1989 to 1991.
His initial imprisonment stemmed from his involvement in an attempted coup in 1982, an event that propelled him onto the national political stage.