Raila Odinga
1945 – 2025 Kenyan engineer, opposition leader, Prime Minister of Kenya 2008-2013
Long-time opposition leader and son of Oginga Odinga, detained without trial after the 1982 coup attempt and later prime minister.
- Affiliations
- NDP, ODM
Raila Amolo Odinga, a Luo from Maseno and son of the nationalist Oginga Odinga, trained as an engineer before entering politics. He was detained without trial in connection with the 1982 air force coup attempt, an accusation his supporters disputed, and spent years in detention. He became Kenya's most prominent opposition figure, served as prime minister in the 2008-2013 power-sharing government, and ran for president several times. He died in 2025.
Connections
- rival of Daniel arap Moi — Detained under his rule and a leading opponent of his government.
- rival of Mwai Kibaki — Raila Odinga became Kibaki main opponent in 2007 and later prime minister in the Grand Coalition.
- family of Oginga Odinga — Son of the nationalist and opposition leader Oginga Odinga.
- rival of Uhuru Kenyatta — Raila was Uhuru main 2013 and 2017 opponent before becoming his handshake ally and chosen 2022 successor.
- rival of William Ruto — Ruto defeated Raila Odinga in the 2022 presidential election.
In the timeline
- 1982 Air force coup attempt against Moi detained on accusations linked to the coup
- 1990 Matiba, Rubia, and Raila Odinga detained for pressing multiparty politics central figure
- 1991 Repeal of Section 2A restores multiparty politics opposition figure in the reform push
- 2002 KANU loses power and Moi steps down opposition leader in the 2002 transition
- 2002 NARC nominates Kibaki after the Kibaki Tosha deal mentioned
- 2005 Kibaki loses the 2005 constitutional referendum mentioned
- 2007 Kenya's 2007 general election and presidential vote mentioned
- 2007 The 2007-08 post-election violence mentioned
- 2007 Disputed election triggers Kenya's post-election violence mentioned
- 2007 Kibaki forms PNU for his second-term campaign mentioned
- 2013 Uhuru Kenyatta, big debt, and mega-projects mentioned
- 2013 Uhuru wins the 2013 presidential election under ICC cloud petitioner and rival
- 2016 Uhuru folds the governing coalition into Jubilee Party mentioned
- 2017 Supreme Court annuls Uhuru Kenyattas 2017 reelection petitioner
- 2017 Uhuru begins a second term after the boycotted repeat election boycotting rival
- 2018 Uhuru and Raila shake hands at Harambee House opposition leader
- 2021 Courts stop the BBI constitutional project handshake partner
- 2022 Uhuru endorses Raila and turns the succession against Ruto endorsed candidate
- 2022 Supreme Court upholds Rutos win over Azimio petitioner