New Delhi. World leaders, including Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, have joined millions across Africa in mourning the death of Kenya’s veteran opposition leader and former Prime Minister, Raila Amolo Odinga, who passed away on Wednesday morning October 15, 2025 in Kochi, India.
President Samia expressed deep sorrow upon receiving the news, describing Mr Odinga as a towering statesman, a true Pan-Africanist, a peacemaker, and a seeker of consensus whose influence transcended Kenya’s borders to shape the destiny of East Africa and the continent at large.
“We have lost an astute leader, a Pan-Africanist, a lover of peace and a seeker of solutions whose wisdom and compassion went beyond Kenya to touch the whole of Africa. This is not Kenya’s loss alone, but ours as a continent,” President Samia said in a condolence message posted on her official social media accounts.
She extended heartfelt condolences to Kenya’s President William Ruto, Mama Ida Odinga, the Odinga family, friends, and all the people of Kenya, praying that the Almighty grant them strength and solace during this painful moment.
Mr Odinga, 80, died in the southern Indian city of Kochi after reportedly suffering a cardiac arrest during a morning walk.
According to Indian media, he was rushed to Devamatha Hospital in Koothattukulam, where he was pronounced dead.
He had travelled to India earlier this month for treatment for an undisclosed condition.
His death has thrown Kenya into mourning and drawn emotional tributes from across the political spectrum.
President William Ruto and the Odinga family, led by his elder brother Dr Oburu Oginga, are expected to address the nation on the passing of the man many regarded as the conscience of Kenya’s democracy.
Mr Odinga was one of Africa’s most enduring political figures.
He served as Kenya’s Prime Minister between 2008 and 2013 in a coalition government formed after the disputed 2007 election that plunged the country into deadly post-election violence.
His political journey, spanning more than four decades, was defined by his struggle for multiparty democracy, constitutional reform, and good governance.
The son of Kenya’s first Vice President, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Raila inherited his father’s mantle of opposition politics.
He first vied for the presidency in 1997 and made four more attempts thereafter—in 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022.
Despite never ascending to the presidency, his influence remained profound, shaping Kenya’s political landscape and inspiring reform movements across the region.
In 2018, he famously reconciled with then-President Uhuru Kenyatta through the historic “handshake,” an event that helped stabilise Kenya’s tense political environment and demonstrated his lifelong commitment to peace and dialogue.
Mr Odinga’s political career began with his involvement in the National Development Party (NDP), which he later merged with then-President Daniel arap Moi’s Kanu party in 2001.
He served as Energy Minister before breaking ranks with Mr Moi in 2002, joining the coalition that propelled Mwai Kibaki to the presidency.
Throughout his career, Mr Odinga endured imprisonment, exile, and vilification but remained steadfast in his belief in democracy and unity.
His contributions extended beyond politics—he championed education, infrastructure, and regional integration, and was instrumental in forging Kenya’s role within the East African Community.
As tributes continue to pour in from across Africa and beyond, leaders and citizens alike are remembering Mr Odinga not only as a politician but as a visionary who fought tirelessly for justice, equality, and democratic ideals.
Flags are expected to fly at half-mast across Kenya, and a period of national mourning is anticipated as the nation prepares to bid farewell to one of its most influential sons.
Mr Odinga is survived by his wife, Mama Ida Odinga, and their children.
