One year after Raila Odinga's death, the former Kenyan prime minister remains a towering figure in the country's political life. For many, he symbolizes the struggle for multiparty democracyand constitutional reforms in Kenya. For others, his later political alliances raise questions about compromise, opposition politics and the direction of the movement he built.
As Kenya marks the first anniversary of his death on October 15, 2026, the question is not only how the country remembers Odinga, but whether the principles he championed can survive beyond him. "I want his legacy to live beyond the party," says 20-year-old, Beatrice Chebet, a Nairobi resident, reflecting on the values she believes should define his legacy. She points to the Kenya Odinga wanted: a country grounded in peace, democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law.
Chebet says younger generations must carry those aspirations forward. We did not know any form of multipartism without reading Raila,” she told DW, describing how his political journey became part of the country's history and the experience of younger Kenyans. Odinga's political influence was shaped by decades of opposition politics, detentions, and campaigns for democratic change.
His role in the disputed 2007 presidential election placed him at the center of one of Kenya's most consequential political crises. The post-election violence killed more than 1,100 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. A power-sharing agreement brokered with international mediation led by the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, made Odinga prime minister in a coalition government with President Mwai Kibaki.
The settlement also established a reform agenda, including constitutional change. Kenya adopted a new constitution in 2010, introducing a devolved system of government. For security expert Byron Adera, Odinga's impact extended beyond electoral politics.
"Raila was an institution that rocked institutions, bringing about lasting and very impactful institutional reforms for the betterment of Kenya," Adera told DW. He identifies constitutional reform and efforts to bring competing political interests together as important parts of Odinga's legacy. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Yet reconciliation also became one of the most contested aspects of his career.
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