Raila Odinga, a towering figure in Kenyan politics who served as prime minister and ran unsuccessfully for the presidency five times, died while on a
Raila Odinga, a towering figure in Kenyan politics who served as prime minister and ran unsuccessfully for the presidency five times, died while on a trip to India, according to a hospital there and a former campaign adviser. He was 80.
Mr. Odinga played a pivotal role in championing multiparty democracy in the 1990s and has since been a leader both inside government and as the main opposition leader.
The Devamatha Hospital in Kerala, in southern India, confirmed in a phone call that Mr. Odinga had died there on Wednesday.
Ben Agina, a senior adviser in Mr. Odinga’s 2022 election campaign, also confirmed the death.
“It’s a sad day for us,” Mr. Agina said by telephone as he was driving to Mr. Odinga’s house in suburban Nairobi to pay his respects. “His death has caused a major split politically. The horizon looks unclear. And it will be a big blow especially to his party.”
President William Ruto of Kenya was expected to make a statement later on Wednesday, according to Kenyan media reports. They said that Mr. Odinga’s elder brother, Oburu Odinga, who is a senator, was expected to address the news media.
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