Farewell, Baba: Raila Odinga’s death echoes across Africa
From airport surges to a state funeral, Kenya mourns Raila Odinga as Africa weighs his legacy and what it means for our shared democratic future.
Raila Odinga’s passing at 80 on 15 October 2025 in India feels personal across our region. Seven days of national mourning were declared in Kenya, and tributes poured in for a reformist who shaped multi-party politics. This Raila Odinga death moment reaches South Africa too, because Kenya’s democracy has long been a mirror for ours.
What happened, and why it matters
Crowds surged to receive his body in Nairobi on 16 October 2025, halting airport activity and forcing changes to public viewings.
Two people died when gunfire erupted during a stadium viewing, showing the depth of emotion and the strain on security. A state funeral is planned, with leaders urging calm.
Odinga’s record stretches from detention and exile to Prime Minister in 2008, and five presidential runs. He pushed constitutional change and later struck a pact with President William Ruto, signalling pragmatism in service of stability.
Raila Odinga’s death: A ripple effect for South Africa
- Markets and policy: Kenya is a gateway to East Africa. Smooth succession lowers regional risk, supporting trade, aviation links and tourism that South African firms rely on.
- Democratic norms: Kenya’s handling of mourning, protest and succession will set a tone for rights and policing in the region. South Africans will watch for institution-first leadership.
- Opposition politics: Odinga modelled an enduring opposition that negotiated power during crises. South African parties studying coalition governance can draw lessons from that 2008 period and later rapprochement.
What changes now
Kenya enters a sensitive phase of grief, security management and political recalibration around Odinga’s coalition and Luo heartland.
The government has framed the week as unity first, with a state funeral and tightened protocols after crowd surges. Expect short-term disruptions to events, not to everyday travel.
For South Africans in Kenya, keep an eye on official advisories and avoid mass gatherings near memorial sites. The bigger story is legacy.
Odinga’s insistence on dialogue under pressure will remain a benchmark for those who inherit his supporters and his critics alike.
As Africans, we mourn the man and guard the democratic muscle he helped build. Let’s honour him by choosing calm, conversation and care for one another.