Kenya’s former Vice President, Kalonzo Musyoka, has paid tribute to the late Raila Odinga, describing him as “a force of nature” and “the Champion of the Second Political Liberation.”
Raila Odinga, 80, and also former Kenya’s Prime Minister, died on Wednesday morning while undergoing treatment at an Ayurvedic hospital in Kochi, Kerala, India.
Medical reports indicated he suffered a cardiac arrest during a morning walk and was pronounced dead shortly after 9 a.m.
In a statement released on Wednesday morning, Kalonzo said he received the news of Odinga’s death upon his arrival at Heathrow International Airport in London, where he is on a scheduled 10-day programme.
“I received the devastating news of the death of the Second Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya and my dear brother, Rt Hon Raila Amolo Odinga this morning, upon my arrival at Heathrow International Airport, London, United Kingdom where I am on a scheduled 10-day programme,” Kalonzo said.
Musyoka described Odinga, fondly known as Baba, as a resilient and selfless leader who endured immense suffering in his fight for democracy.
“Baba was the longest suffering political detainee in Kenya. At the heart of the struggle for multipartyism, Raila’s body bore the scars of the slings and arrows, bullets and batons, that no man or woman should ever endure,” he said.
“Yet, at each point of release from the detention cells and torture chambers, he would raise his arms up to the heavens, his fist clenched in determination; resolved that the tears and painful scars he personally suffered would yield to democracy and freedom for his beloved Kenya. That is why we call him the Champion of the Second Political Liberation.”
Musyoka praised Odinga’s instrumental role in shaping Kenya’s democracy, particularly during the 2010 Constitution reforms that devolved power from what he described as “an imperial presidency to a people’s centred constitutional order.”
“From the Opposition benches to the Government side as Prime Minister, to August 27, 2010, the day our New Constitution was promulgated, my brother Raila played an instrumental and integral role in devolving power from an imperial presidency to a people’s centred constitutional order. For that, we owe him our immense gratitude,” he said.
Kalonzo also reflected on their political partnership, noting that they had worked together closely as running mates in both the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) and the National Super Alliance (NASA), as well as partners in the Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition.
“We learnt a lot from each other, and shared a lot of pain together,” he said.
He extended his condolences to Odinga’s widow, Mama Ida Odinga, and their children, saying:
“To Mama Ida, and the entire family, in particular Rosemary, Raila Junior and Winnie, as much as I cannot imagine the shock and the heartbreak that you are currently going through, I want you to know that my family and I stand in solidarity with you.”
Kalonzo described Odinga as “the President who won but was never declared and sworn into office,” saying his death was “not only a loss to his family and country, but also to the entire African continent.”
“I will miss my brother and friend dearly,” he added. “May God rest the soul of Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga in everlasting peace.”
Odinga served as Kenya’s second Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013 under the Grand Coalition Government formed after the 2007 post-election crisis.
Born in 1945, Odinga was the son of Kenya’s first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. A lifelong advocate for democracy and reform, he was a central figure in Kenya’s fight for multiparty politics in the 1990s.
His party, Azimio la Umoja, became a key player in opposition politics, promoting national unity and social justice.
