Former Orange Democratic Party (ODM) leader and Kenya’s long-serving opposition figure, Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga, continues to inspire debate even after his death. Odinga, who passed away in India a few days ago while receiving treatment, was flown back to Kenya aboard a Kenya Airways flight accompanied by senior government dignitaries led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
True to his wishes as outlined in his will, the late Odinga was laid to rest within 72 hours of his passing — on October 19, 2025 — at his ancestral home in Kang’o Kajaramogi, Bondo, Siaya County. His burial marked the end of an era for one of Kenya’s most resilient and transformative political figures. Yet, even in his grave, “Baba” still rules.
Barely days after his interment, news emerged that Durham University, one of Europe’s leading research institutions based in the United Kingdom, had dispatched a team of top professors to study Raila Odinga’s life, legacy, and political philosophy. The move underscores Odinga’s far-reaching influence that transcended Kenyan borders and shaped global conversations about democracy and governance in Africa.
Durham University’s Tribute: “The Man Who Changed Kenya Without Ever Ruling It”
In a statement published on its official website under the headline “Raila Odinga: The Man Who Changed Kenya Without Ever Ruling It”, Durham University described Odinga as “a paradox in post-independence Kenyan politics” — a man who profoundly shaped the nation’s political landscape without ever holding the presidency.
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The university’s Department of History, represented by Professor Justin Willis, collaborated with Professor Gabrielle Lynch (University of Warwick), Professor Karuti Kanyinga (University of Nairobi), and Professor Nic Cheeseman (University of Birmingham) to launch a comprehensive research project analyzing Odinga’s political journey and its implications for Kenya’s future.
According to the research team, Odinga’s death has “created a political vacuum that other leaders will struggle to fill.” They note that Odinga’s legacy is not defined by electoral victories but by his unwavering fight for democracy, devolution, and constitutional reform — most notably his contribution to Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, which decentralized power and expanded civil liberties.
A Lifelong Struggle for Justice and Reform
The Durham report traces Odinga’s journey from his birth on January 7, 1945, as the son of Kenya’s first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, through his years in political detention under the Moi regime, to his rise as the face of opposition politics.
Odinga’s political life, according to the researchers, mirrored Kenya’s own evolution — from autocracy to a fragile democracy. He was repeatedly detained for championing multi-party democracy in the 1980s, endured betrayals from allies in successive governments, and yet never relented in pushing for a freer and more just society.
His involvement in constitutional reforms, especially during the 2005 referendum and the 2007 post-election crisis, was highlighted as pivotal moments that redefined Kenya’s governance. Durham’s scholars observed that Odinga “embodied Kenya’s political contradictions” — a nationalist who mobilized across ethnic lines, yet remained the dominant voice of his Luo community.
A Global Icon of Democratic Resilience
The university’s acknowledgment places Odinga among global icons whose influence outlived their political offices. Scholars compared his role in Kenya to figures like Nelson Mandela, noting that while Odinga never became president, his ideas and movements reshaped Kenya’s democracy and constitutional identity.
“Raila Odinga did more than any other individual to make Kenya’s political system more responsive to its people,” the Durham article stated. “His absence will be deeply felt not only in Kenya but across Africa’s democratic movements.”
Kenyans React: “Even in Death, Baba Still Teaches”
Back home, news of the European study sparked emotional reactions across social media platforms. Many Kenyans praised the recognition, describing it as a “historic honor for the continent.” Others remarked that the international interest affirmed Odinga’s enduring relevance in African political history.
“Raila Odinga is now a subject of academic research in Europe — proof that his struggle was not in vain,” wrote one X user. Another added, “Even in his grave, Baba continues to educate the world about democracy.”
Political analysts have also pointed out that the move could inspire future leadership studies focused on African statesmen whose impact transcended their countries’ borders.
A Legacy Cast in Stone
As Kenya continues to process Odinga’s passing, Durham University’s initiative reinforces the idea that his political story remains unfinished — a living study of resistance, reform, and resilience.
For a man often described as “the president Kenya never had,” Raila Odinga’s influence is now crossing oceans, entering classrooms, and shaping global discourses on governance.
In the words of Professor Willis:
“Odinga may never have ruled Kenya, but he ruled its political conscience. His life will remain a mirror through which we understand both the promise and the paradox of African democracy.”
Indeed, even in death, Raila Odinga still rules — not through power, but through the indelible legacy of his ideas.
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