Raila Amolo Odinga

DATE OF BIRTH


January 7, 1945

GENDER


Male

OCCUPATION


Politician, Engineer

FAMILY


Son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. Married to Ida Oyoo Odinga. They have four children.

BIOGRAPHY


Education background: Early schooling at Kisumu Union Primary, then later Maranda High School for secondary education. Dropped out in 1962 and travelled to then East Germany where he was admitted at the Herder Institution. In 1965, Odinga was awarded a scholarship at the Technical School, Magdeburg, which is part of the philological faculty at the University of Leipzig in East Germany. He graduated with a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1970.

Mr Odinga, who served as Prime Minister between 2008 and 2013, returned to Kenya after completing his studies and established Standard Processing Equipment Construction and Erection Limited (later renamed East African Spectre), a company that specialises in the manufacturing of liquid petroleum gas cylinders. 

He had his first stint in public service in 1974 when he was appointed Group Standards Manager at the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS) and promoted to the position of Deputy Director in 1978 until 1982 when he was detained because of his political activity. He was placed under house arrest for 7 months by the regime of former President Daniel Moi. He was later charged with treason, but was instead detained without trial for six years. During his time in detention, his mother died in 1984.

Mr Moi ordered his release on February 6, 1988, but he was re-arrested in September the same year and was once again detained. He was released on June 12, 1989, only to be incarcerated again on July 5, 1990, this time with Mr Kenneth Matiba and Mr Charles Rubia during the agitation for multi-party democracy. He was released on June 21, 1991, but fled the country for Norway the following November amid fears of another arrest.

He returned to Kenya in February 1992, and joined Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (Ford) -- where he was elected vice Chairman of the General Purposes Committee of the party. He was elected Lang'ata MP in 1992 on a Ford Kenya ticket. When his father, Mr Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, died in January 1994, he challenged Mr Michael Wamalwa Kijana as the chair of the party but lost. He resigned from Ford-Kenya to join the National Development Party (NDP).

He contested the presidency in 1997 and finished third but retained his position as Lang'ata MP. After the election, he led a merger between his party, NDP, and Mr Moi’s Kanu party. He served in Moi’s Cabinet as Energy Minister from June 2001 to 2002. In the subsequent Kanu elections, he was elected the party’s secretary-general as part of the power sharing deal of the merger.

In 2002, Mr Odinga fell out with Mr Moi after he endorsed Mr Uhuru Kenyatta as his successor. Mr Odinga and other Kanu members, including Kalonzo Musyoka, the late George Saitoti and the late Joseph Kamotho, opposed this step arguing that the then 38-year-old Mr Kenyatta was politically inexperienced and lacked the leadership qualities required to govern.

They joined the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which later teamed up with Mr Mwai Kibaki’s National Alliance Party of Kenya (Nak), a coalition of several other parties, to form the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) that eventually defeated Mr Kenyatta in the 2002 poll.

He later fell out with Mr Kibaki and contested the presidential election in 2007 that was marred by Kenya's deadliest post-poll violence. He was named Prime Minister in the subsequent grand coalition that was formed after the peace talks mediated by late former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Anan.

He also lost the 2013 presidential election to Mr Kenyatta. After the Supreme Court nullified the poll results, he boycotted the repeat election held on October 2017. 

He ran for president again in 2022 but lost to William Ruto. Dr Ruto garnered 50.49 percent of the vote against Raila Odinga's 48.85 percent. Mr Odinga challenged the results at the Supreme Court. However, the seven-judge bench upheld Dr Ruto's win. The court said it found no evidence of hacking and that no evidence was produced to show that Mr Chebukati and other IEBC staff were involved. 

Latest articles on Raila Amolo Odinga:

  1. Raila plots protests against Ruto taxes

    In 2024, “we shall work with all people of goodwill to restore hope and faith in our nation", says the Azimio leader.

    Raila Odinga
  2. PREMIUM Revealed: Raila's new game plan to counter Ruto

    It was on the basis of the new strategies that opposition chose to support the dialogue report despite misgivings.

    Raila Odinga
  3. Raila Odinga Stadium gets air quality sensors

    It will ensure people at the facility, especially players and athletes, breathe clean air.

  4. We’re back to the 'dark days' of Kanu, says Raila

    Raila accuses President Ruto of usurping the powers of parliament.

    Raila Odinga
  5. Raila blasts Murkomen over 'reckless' Rwanda remarks

    He warns that Kenya Kwanza is failing the diplomacy test, and the country in the process.

    Raila Odinga
  6. PREMIUM How Azimio division is a blessing for Ruto

    Cracks in the opposition have turned out to be Mr Odinga’s headache.

    Raila Odinga
  7. PREMIUM Revealed: The ‘hidden’ Koigi interview that ‘exposed’ Raila

    At the time of Koigi wa Wamwere’s interview, Raila Odingawas being held in detention.

    Koigi Wamwere
  8. Blame Ruto for rising cost of living, not Azimio, Raila says

    Raila says Azimio has no power to check soaring prices.

    Raila Odinga.
  9. Ruto’s plan to eat into Raila’s Nyanza turf ‘bearing fruit’

    UDA says it has registered over 360,000 new members in the past six months

    William Ruto
  10. PREMIUM Raila under siege

    Azimio leader says the Bomas report ‘a good beginning’, but his allies think otherwise.

    Raila Odinga
  11. PREMIUM For Margaret Nyakango, when it rains it pours

    Margaret Nyakang'o, the Controller of Budget, has for four years kept an eye on the use of public funds and cited expenditure breaches.

  12. Advantage Posta as Nzoia hold Gor Mahia in Homa Bay

    KCB and FC Talanta drew 0-0 at Police Sacco Stadium in Nairobi.

  13. Raila demands fuel price cut by Sh50

    He accused President William Ruto of running an insensitive government.

  14. PREMIUM Raila: Why Ruto is on the wrong path

    Raila says a boy going to court over KCPE marks shows the country has failed its children.

    Raila Odinga.
  15. Raila: Abolish provincial administration now

    Azimio leader says there have been attempts to revive other structures of governance that are not anchored on the Constitution.

  16. PREMIUM Big dilemma: Why Ruto is against referendum call

    Ruto and Raila are headed for a major clash over calls for a referendum.

    President William Ruto
  17. Raila diehard Nuru Okanga in court for insulting President Ruto

    He is accused of circulating a video titled 'Nuru Okanga on Fire'.

  18. Azimio endorses Kalonzo-Ichung'wah report

    Opposition leader Raila Odinga has described the report as 'unfinished but a good beginning'.

    Raila Odinga
  19. Raila calls crisis meeting over Bomas talks report

    Azimio MPs to discuss proposals by team and take a common position, end divisions.

    Raila Odinga