The late Raila Odinga, Kenya’s veteran opposition leader and one of Africa’s most enduring political figures, will be remembered for his signature style of politics — the “handshake.” Through these strategic alliances, Odinga built bridges across rival camps, stabilised governments, and expanded his influence, even without ever occupying the presidency.
On Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Raila Odinga passed away in India at the age of 80, leaving behind a deep void in Kenya’s political and democratic landscape.
The First Major Handshake
Odinga’s political journey began under the one-party regime of President Daniel arap Moi, where he emerged as a vocal critic and later a shrewd tactician. After finishing third in the 1997 presidential election under the National Development Party (NDP), Raila surprised many in 2001 by merging NDP with Moi’s KANU in what became known as the “KANU Handshake.”
The move earned him the position of Minister for Energy, showcasing his pragmatic approach to politics. Though criticised by some as opportunistic, the alliance positioned him as a national powerbroker. When Moi endorsed Uhuru Kenyatta as his successor in 2002, Raila defected to the NARC coalition, joining Mwai Kibaki to end 24 years of KANU rule — a defining moment in Kenya’s political transformation.
Coalition Government and the 2008 Accord
Following the disputed 2007 elections that plunged Kenya into post-election violence, Odinga and Kibaki signed the National Accord on February 28, 2008, mediated by Kofi Annan. The accord birthed the Grand Coalition Government, with Raila serving as Prime Minister.
In that role, he helped restore stability and guided the process that produced Kenya’s 2010 Constitution. The coalition may have ended in 2013, but its legacy — power-sharing and dialogue as tools for peace — reshaped Kenya’s governance model.
The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI)
After the tense 2017 election, Raila once again turned to reconciliation. On March 9, 2018, he and President Uhuru Kenyatta publicly shook hands at Harambee House, launching the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI). The move sought to address ethnic divisions, reform governance, and promote national unity.
Though BBI was ultimately halted by the courts in 2021, it successfully defused political tensions and influenced the political climate leading up to the 2022 elections.
Alliance with President Ruto
In March 2025, amid nationwide protests over high taxes and economic discontent, Odinga surprised the nation again by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with President William Ruto.
The pact, sealed at the KICC, saw his party ODM align with Kenya Kwanza, marking yet another of Raila’s transformative handshakes. Allies such as Hassan Joho, Opiyo Wandayi, and John Mbadi were appointed to cabinet positions, while Ruto supported Raila’s bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship — though the bid later fell short.
Critics accused Odinga of weakening the opposition, but he defended the deal as a push for a “broad-based government” aimed at national unity and stability.
Enduring Legacy
Throughout his decades in politics, Raila Odinga embodied resilience and pragmatism. He endured detention, exile, and five unsuccessful presidential runs, yet remained a unifying force in Kenyan politics.
His contributions to multiparty democracy in 1991, constitutional reform in 2010, and his tireless pursuit of peace cement his place as a statesman and reformist.
As Kenya and the world mourn his passing, tributes have poured in describing Odinga as a bridge-builder, democracy champion, and architect of political reconciliation.
At 80, Raila Odinga never sat in State House — yet his influence on Kenya’s democracy, governance, and political culture remains indelible. His legacy endures as that of a strategist, negotiator, and unyielding advocate for national unity.
