[Opposition leader Raila Odinga in a past event. He has been in political limelight for over four decades. Photo/Nation]
They call him Agwambo (the mysterious one), Jakom (Chairman) while some call him Baba, Raila Odinga’s political victory is one that cannot be explained in a simple article.
Born in 1945 to Kenya’s first Vice President Oginga Odinga and Mama Mary Ajuma, Raila stands one of the most popular politicians across the world.
Having studied Engineering in Germany, Odinga briefly worked as a lecturer in University of Nairobi in 70s before being recruited as deputy Director of KEBS, a rank he held up to 1982.
However, his career was cut short by detention in 1982 after he was directly linked to a failed coup by a section of Kenya Air force officers, who were unhappy with President Daniel Moi.
The remaining period until the renaissance for pluralism in 1990, Raila spent most of his life in prison or other detention centers across the country.
At the eve of multiparty democracy, Odinga joined a group of Young Turks, civil society bodies and religious leaders to push for pluralism in the county. 1n 1992, he was elected as MP for Langa’ta constituency, a position he held for two decades.
Moments after the death of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Raila bowed out of Ford Kenya and formed NDP, which he contested for presidency in 1997 where he emerged third.
In 2002, he was behind Narc coalition which brought to end Moi’s rule after backing election of Mwai Kibaki, who would become Kenya’s third president.
A failed MoU resulted Odinga’s persistent intrigues with Kibaki’s regime, leading to his candidature in 2007, an election which many pundits believe he won. He was later appointed as Prime Minister in 2008.
In 2013, Odinga, who was serving as Prime Minister then, lost presidency to Uhuru Kenyatta, a son to Kenya’s founding President Jomo Kenyatta.