Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. The widow of the late Raila Odinga, Ida Odinga, delivered a moving tribute to her husband at his State Funeral in Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium on Friday, October 17, 2025 reflecting on their 52 years of marriage and a life dedicated to Kenya.

She recounted meeting Raila in the early 1970s and marrying him in 1973, describing him as a man of principle, intellect, and unwavering resilience, whose life was defined by political activism and service to the nation. “I first met Raila in the early 70s, and we married in 1973. For that reason, I lived with this remarkable man for 52 years.

Many of the people in this stadium could easily be our children; no wonder he is fondly called Baba,” she said. Ida Odinga also reflected on the significance of naming their four children after figures who inspired them.

“Our first child, Fidel Castro Odhiambo Odinga, was named after a man he admired deeply. Our second, Rosemary, combines the names of my mother and his mother.

The third, Raila Oginga Odinga Junior, honours his best friend and cousin. When our fourth was born, I had been watching the television as Nelson Mandela emerged from prison.

We decided to name him Nelson if a boy, or Winnie if a girl,” she recalled. She emphasised that Raila’s lifelong message to Kenyans was one of unity and peace.

“He constantly reminded me that we must encourage Kenyans to live harmoniously, to reject dishonesty and greed, which breed corruption,” she said. Ida Odinga candidly acknowledged that their life together was not without challenges.

“Our journey had its ups and downs, but through it all, we learned to cope by embracing our strengths and weaknesses, speaking the truth, forgiving, and moving forward. Let us not carry grudges from one generation to another or across communities.

Forgiveness must be our guiding principle,” she urged .

Dar es Salaam. Jubilee Health Insurance Tanzania has partnered with Medikea Clinic for a prigramme that seek to transform healthcare service delivery accross the country.

The Chronic Condition Management Programme, branded as Smart Health Journey, alongside a new Telemedicine service, seeks to enhance health outcomes through a technology-driven approach. By integrating the services with its existing drug delivery system, the insurer aims to make healthcare more accessible and efficient.

Representing the Jubilee Health Insurance Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer Shaban Salehe said the initiatives mark a major step towards improving the lives of Tanzanians. “This effort aims to make quality healthcare more accessible, efficient, and inclusive for all,” said Mr Salehe.

He explained that the pilot phase, which runs from October 2025 to January 2026, will focus on two of the most common chronic conditions in Tanzania–hypertension and diabetes. Through the programme, members will receive personalised health coaching, continuous health monitoring, and teleconsultations with healthcare professionals.

According to him, the services will initially be available through the Medikea Clinic and Telemedicine App and later be fully integrated into the Maisha Fiti App after the pilot phase. Head of Wellness and Corporate Relations at Medikea Health, Dr Lilian Valerian, described the programme as a healthcare revolution.

“We are shifting from a system that waits for illness to one that walks with people through every step of their health journey,” she said. “Our vision is simple but powerful–to make healthcare accessible, continuous, and compassionate,” she said.

Dr Valerian said the Smart Health Journey and Telemedicine platform, developed in collaboration with Jubilee Health Insurance, aim to eliminate barriers of distance and time by providing instant access to qualified doctors and specialists, regardless of location. “Telemedicine is how we democratise healthcare, reaching people who were once out of reach,” she said.

She noted that the platform supports continuous care for chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. It was designed in collaboration with patients, clinicians, and care teams to address real-life challenges such as treatment adherence, emotional support, and quality of life.

Looking ahead, she said the Smart Health Journey aims to enrol over one million subscribers in its chronic disease management programme by 2030. The initiative combines data, digital infrastructure, and human connection to create a healthcare system. Tanzania Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (TANCDA) health and fitness expert Dr Waziri Ndonde commended the partnership for the programme.

He noted that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer remain leading causes of premature death in Tanzania. “This initiative strengthens our primary health care and digital health strategies by promoting integrated, person-centred care for all Tanzanians,” he said.

“We must stop seeing people only as patients. They are fathers, mothers, professionals, and leaders who need strong health to fulfil their purpose,” he said.

He added that by integrating lifestyle coaching, digital follow-ups, peer support, and mental wellness, the initiative extends healthcare beyond hospitals into homes, workplaces, and communities. .

Dar es Salaam. The 2025 Tanzanian National Rally Championship (NRC) is heading toward a dramatic conclusion, with three drivers, Ahmed Huwel, Randeep Singh, and Waleed Nahdi locked in a tense battle for the title ahead of the Guru Nanak Rally, scheduled for next month.

After four exhilarating rounds, Huwel of Iringa leads the standings with 105 points, followed by Singh of Dar es Salaam on 88 points, while Nahdi sits third with 80 points. The trio has dominated the season and remains in contention for the ultimate silverware, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive finale.

According to NRC regulations, the winner of the final leg will be awarded 30 points, with the runner-up earning 25 points, and points continuing to drop progressively for subsequent finishers. That structure keeps the title mathematically open, though Huwel remains in a commanding position.

Huwel on the brink of history For Ahmed Huwel, this could be a landmark season. Having already clinched two major victories this year, in the Morogoro and Arusha’s NRC’s rounds.

Huwel needs only to finish the Guru Nanak Rally to reclaim the national title he first won in 2007. His consistent performances, including strong podium finishes earlier in the campaign, have given him a 17-point cushion over Singh. Driving a Toyota Yaris Gazoo, Huwel has symbolized the sport’s new technological chapter, challenging the long-standing dominance of Subaru and Mitsubishi cars.

A win or even a finish in the top five would be enough to confirm his championship triumph, officially ending the two-decade reign of the traditional rally giants. Singh eyes redemption For Randeep Singh, who currently stands second, the final round presents both opportunity and pressure.

The Mitsubishi Evo 9 driver must finish strongly in Arusha, preferably ahead of Huwel to keep his championship hopes alive. Should Huwel retire or fail to finish, Singh could snatch the title with a top-two result.

Singh’s season has been impressive, highlighted by consistent top-three finishes, including a solid performance in the second and fourth rounds. Known for his aggressive driving style and technical precision, Singh remains the biggest threat to Huwel’s bid for glory.

Nahdi still in the chase Meanwhile, Waleed Nahdi, sitting third with 80 points, remains an outside contender for the crown. Although he trails by 25 points, a victory at Guru Nanak combined with misfortune for both Huwel and Singh could propel him to an unlikely title.

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The recent chaos surrounding UDART in Dar es Salaam wasn’t just a transport meltdown–it was a masterclass in how to ruin a public-private partnership. This is a slow-motion collapse that everyone saw coming, yet no one stopped.

UDART was born with promise. Phase One of the bus rapid transit system which was meant to revolutionise urban mobility.

In 2016, UDART rolled out 200 buses from China’s Golden Dragon–12-metre and 18-metre low-floor units built for high-capacity transit. They were sleek.

Modern. Supposed to be the future.

But beneath the surface, the rot had already begun. The buses were designed to run on compressed natural gas (CNG)–cleaner, cheaper, and aligned with UDART’s business model.

But others had other plans. They ditched CNG and went for diesel, a move that instantly doubled operating costs.

UDART was doomed to fail from the beginning. The financial strain was compounded by fare disputes.

UDART proposed a much higher fare per passenger, arguing that it was necessary to cover costs and service its debt. The government, prioritising affordability, capped the fare at Sh600, later raising it to Sh700. But even this adjustment was insufficient.

With diesel costs soaring and operational inefficiencies mounting, cash flow became critically constrained. Yet the real haemorrhage came from revenue leakage.

Initially, fare collection was automated, ensuring transparency and minimising theft. But this system was abandoned in favour of manual cash collection–a move that made it possible for millions of shillings to disappear daily.

Then came the Jangwani disaster. In 2020, the Jangwani Depot–UDART’s main maintenance and parking facility–was flooded, disabling approximately 70 buses in a single event.

The depot’s location in a known flood-prone area raised serious questions about due diligence. But what’s more alarming is that these buses weren’t revived.

Technically, flooded buses can be salvaged. Tow them out.

Dry them. Flush the electrical systems.

Replace fluids. Typically, the cost would have been around $15,000 per bus.

For 70 buses, the total would have been about $1 million–roughly 10 percent of the cost of procuring new ones. Yet no action was taken.

Thus, UDART’s financial health deteriorated rapidly. An estimated Sh150 billion loan from NMB Bank ballooned into a Sh250 billion debt burden.

The company failed to pay dues to the TPA, which blocked the clearance of newly imported buses meant to revive the service. With only 30 buses left operational, UDART could no longer generate enough revenue to service its loans or maintain basic operations.

The company was functionally insolvent. Eventually, the government was forced to act.

Public outrage reached a boiling point, and transport paralysis became a political liability. The Prime Minister toured the network, promising change.

In a bid to stabilise the situation, 60 MOFAT buses (a new operator) were redirected to UDART, raising the operational fleet to 90–still less than half the original capacity. Finally, the government brought new leaders for UDART and DART management teams.

Yet even this intervention raises uncomfortable questions. UDART is 85 percent owned by the government and 15 percent by the Simon Group.

On paper, it is a public entity. In practice, it operated like a private fiefdom.

Procurement decisions, fuel contracts, and revenue systems were all seemingly controlled by shadowy interests with little regard for public accountability. The governance model was flawed from the start.

This provides us with rich lessons on how to destroy PPPs. Make sure that there is no transparency whatsoever.

Allow conflicts of interest to flourish unchecked. Ensure systems that ascertain revenue integrity are abandoned.

Ignore asset management–no due diligence and no maintenance. And through it all, make sure that the government watches from the sidelines, intervening only when the crisis becomes a threat to political stability.

Wasn’t this the plan all along? The decline had been evident for years. So why were decision-makers waiting? For UDART to fail–so alternative plans could be rolled out? And now, with new leadership in place, isn’t UDART a poisoned chalice? Given the current situation, how is UDART going to turn itself around? The situation requires more than buses.

It needs structural reform. The new leadership must be given autonomy to implement a turnaround agenda without interference.

But they must also be held accountable: performance reports should be published and shared openly. Fare collection must be fully automated: no more manual leakages.

The fleet must return to CNG or transition to electric buses. Above all, public transport must be treated as a service: we cannot allow quality to deteriorate until the situation becomes a threat to politicians before we act.

UDART’s story is not just about broken buses. It’s about broken systems.

It is a story not just of misfortune but also of self-sabotage. And unless we change the rules of the game, even the best of people will find themselves in the same vicious cycle.

Charles Makakala is a Technology and Management Consultant based in Dar es Salaam .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s CAF Champions League representatives, Young Africans (Yanga) and Simba SC, are set to depart today ahead of the first leg of the second preliminary round of the continental competition.

Yanga will travel to Lilongwe, Malawi, ahead of their clash against Silver Strikers FC on Saturday at 4:00 pm EAT, while Simba will head to Mbabane, Eswatini, to face Nsingizini Hotspurs on Sunday, also with a 4pm kickoff. These fixtures are crucial for both clubs as they aim to establish a strong position in the tie and increase their chances of qualifying for the group stage of the prestigious CAF Champions League.

Yanga’s squad will be without three key players, Pacome Zouzoua, Prince Dube, and Duke Abuya who are expected to rejoin the team upon arrival in Malawi. The trio had been away on national team duty during the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Zouzoua featured for Ivory Coast, who defeated Kenya’s Harambee Stars 3-0 to secure World Cup qualification. Abuya was with Kenya, while Prince Dube represented Zimbabwe and will join Yanga from South Africa.

Players who will leave today includes Celestin Ecua and Lassine Kouma from Chad, as well as Bakari Mwamnyeto, Israel Mwenda, and Ibrahim “Bacca” Hamad from Tanzania’s Taifa Stars. Also making the trip are Dickson Job and Clement Mzize, whose participation in the match remains uncertain, as they are considered 50-50 for selection.

Meanwhile, Simba SC will travel with a full-strength squad, including players who were recently with their national teams. This includes Ugandan striker Steven Mukwala and Moussa Camara of Guinea.

Morris Abraham, Yusuph Kagoma, and Wilson Nangu, who were with the Taifa Stars, have rejoined Simba ahead of the match. The team is expected to arrive in Mbabane ready to stake an early advantage in the tie.

Both Tanzanian giants are determined to make a strong start in the second preliminary round. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) has opened a public tender worth at least S62.4 billion for the sale of non-GMO grains, as the country positions itself to benefit from strong regional demand for cereals.

The October 2025 tender covers a total of 534,000 tonnes of grain, including 500,000 tonnes of maize priced at a minimum of Sh850,000 per tonne, and 34,000 tonnes of paddy rice set at Sh1.1 million per tonne. According to a statement by the agency, submissions are open until December 30, 2025, and the offer targets both local millers and international buyers.

If sold at the minimum floor prices, the NFRA could raise more than S25 billion from maize sales and Sh37.4 billion from rice, equivalent to S62.4 billion in total. NFRA’s chief executive officer Dr Andrew Komba, said the sale is part of the agency’s regular market operations aimed at maintaining the quality of its reserves and ensuring continued liquidity for future purchases.

“It’s a normal practice for us to sell because when grain stocks sit in storage for too long, they risk spoilage,” Dr. Komba told The Citizen.

“We must therefore sell and replenish with new stock. Tanzania currently has abundant grain supplies, which allows us to manage this process confidently,” he said.

Dr Komba added: “This year, we plan to purchase about 300,000 tonnes of new grain from farmers, and next year that volume could rise to over 600,000 tonnes, depending on the harvest and market conditions”. “Our sales cover both domestic and export markets.

External demand continues to grow. For instance, last year, when we sold about 300,000 tonnes, nearly 250,000 tonnes were bought by foreign buyers, while 50,000 tonnes were absorbed locally.

We expect this trend to continue as regional demand strengthens — and we have enough food to supply both local and external markets.” The release follows a period of stable food supply and favorable harvests across major producing zones, including Rukwa, Ruvuma, and Songwe.

The agency’s large-scale tender also reflects confidence in the upcoming planting season, with the next harvest cycle expected to replenish national reserves by mid-2026. For local millers and traders, the offer provides a rare opportunity to access government stockpiles at predictable, transparent prices. For regional importers — particularly those facing grain shortfalls due to erratic weather patterns — Tanzania’s sale could offer much-needed relief.

Exporters are expected to show strong interest in the maize component, given the country’s proximity to deficit markets and the continuing ban on genetically modified grain imports in Kenya. While the tender is seen as a proactive market move, it also comes against a backdrop of Tanzania’s strong external trade performance.

According to the Bank of Tanzania’s Monthly Economic Report for September 2025, goods exports rose 22.7 percent year-on-year to $9.89 billion in the year ending August, driven largely by agricultural commodities. Cereal exports, including maize and rice, surged 95.4 percent to $341.2 million, up from $174.6 million a year earlier.

At the same time, traditional export crops such as coffee, tobacco, and cashew nuts grew 28.3 percent to $1.41 billion, reflecting continued recovery in agricultural production. Despite rising export demand and higher prices for key staples, headline inflation remained low at 3.

4 percent in August, comfortably within the central bank’s 35 percent target band. Food inflation edged up slightly to 7.

7 percent from 7.6 percent in July, driven by rice and finger millet, but policymakers attributed the moderation to “stable food supplies” and prudent fiscal management.

With the October tender, the NFRA appears to be betting that stability will continue. The agency’s willingness to offload more than half a million tonnes suggests confidence that domestic reserves are adequate to cushion against future shocks.

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Geita. The main opposition party, Chadema, yesterday suffered a major political blow after one of its senior leaders, Mr Ezekiah Wenje, defected to the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), in a move that coincided with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s campaign tour in the mineral-rich Geita Region.

While in Geita, President Hassan unveiled an ambitious plan to transform the area into an industrial and economic powerhouse. Mr Wenje, a former Nyamagana MP and long-serving Lake Zone chairman for Chadema, announced his decision to cross over during a packed rally in Chato.

He was officially welcomed by CCM Secretary-General Dr Asha-Rose Migiro, who handed him a membership card in front of thousands of jubilant supporters. “After 15 years in opposition politics, I have decided to join the ruling party.

It has been like playing in the first division — but now, I want to be in the premier league where I can contribute directly to building my country,” said Mr Wenje, moments after joining CCM. Mr Wenje said his defection was driven by what he described as CCM’s unmatched record in sustaining peace, stability, and development.

“The peace we enjoy is no small achievement,” he said. “If anyone doubts it, let them go to South Sudan or Somalia.

A time comes when a nation must be placed above personal interests.” The former opposition figure also took aim at those calling for anti-government demonstrations from abroad, comparing them to “Pastor Mackenzie of Kenya who told his followers to fast to reach heaven while he himself was eating.

” He added that Tanzania’s progress — especially in infrastructure — had convinced him that CCM’s policies were delivering tangible results. “I travelled from Mwanza to Chato today in two hours.

When I studied in Geita years ago, the same journey took nearly 10 hours,” he said. Mr Wenje dismissed claims that the opposition had been barred from participating in the upcoming general election.

“That’s false,” he said. “I sat in the Central Committee meeting in January 2025 that decided not to take part.

No one banned us — it was our own choice.” He emphasised that his new political path was about contributing positively to the country’s growth.

“Before I die, I want to use my potential to help my country,” he declared. Welcoming him to the ruling party, President Samia described Wenje’s defection as a symbol of growing national confidence in CCM’s leadership.

“I’m delighted to have reached this station and received such a wonderful gift — my young brother Wenje,” she said with a smile. “We welcome him home, to where he truly belongs.

” The defection, analysts say, reinforces CCM’s dominance in the Lake Zone and injects momentum into President Samia’s re-election campaign, especially as she continues to win support from the region’s small-scale miners, businesspeople, and farmers. During her Geita rallies at Nyawilimilwa and Geita Town, President Samia unveiled a comprehensive plan to transform Geita into one of Tanzania’s top industrial and commercial hubs, with the goal of raising the national industrial growth rate to nine percent by 2030, up from the current 4.

8 percent. “Geita is a young region, established only in 2012, but it has shown remarkable economic resilience,” she said.

“We want to make it a true centre of economic growth by empowering its people through mining, agriculture, and livestock industries.” Among the key initiatives she announced were the construction of three modern abattoirs in Nyawilimilwa, Nzera, and Kakubilo; new factories to process sunflower seeds and fruits; and a modern mineral testing laboratory to support small-scale miners.

“My government will provide capital to small miners so they can expand and operate sustainably,” she said, adding that land surveying and ownership programmes will be expanded to promote planned urban and rural development. On healthcare, President Samia revealed plans to establish a branch of the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) in Geita, allowing residents to access heart treatment closer to home.

District hospitals will be upgraded with surgical theatres, mortuary facilities, and 12 new dispensaries. She also pledged to improve transport connectivity by constructing a new airport in Geita Town and upgrading the Chato Airport to enhance trade, tourism, and investment.

“Better roads and air transport mean faster business, easier movement of goods, and more opportunities for investors,” she told cheering crowds. Earlier, the President of the Federation of Miners Associations of Tanzania (FEMATA), Mr John Bina, declared the mining community’s strong backing for President Samia.

“She has created a friendly business environment for all miners,” he said. “In the past, families saw miners as lost souls, but today they are respected entrepreneurs.

She has earned our loyalty — we will protect her leadership like we protect our minerals.” As dusk fell over Geita, chants of “Mama wa maendeleo!” (Mother of development) echoed through the streets, capturing the spirit of both political renewal and economic ambition.

With Mr Wenje’s dramatic defection and Samia’s sweeping vision for Geita’s future, CCM’s campaign in the Lake Zone closed the day with renewed confidence — and a powerful message of unity, growth, and continuity. .

Musoma. The government has disbursed over Sh5.2 billion to compensate 58 residents of Bondeni Street in Kamunyonge Ward, Musoma Municipality, Mara Region, to pave the way for the expansion and construction of Musoma Airport.

This is the third phase of the government’s compensation payments to residents around the airport, which is being implemented at a cost exceeding Sh35 billion. Upon completion of this phase, a total of Sh13.2 billion will have been paid to 194 residents from Nyasho and Kamunyonge wards who lived near the airport.

Speaking during the launch of the payments in Musoma on Thursday, the Lake Zone Manager for the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA), Ms Rose Comino, said the payments are expected to be completed within five days to allow residents enough time to prepare for relocation. She said the payments form part of preparations for the airport’s operation phase, with construction and expansion works having reached over 65 percent of completion.

“We are compensating these people after acquiring their land, mainly for the overall safety of airport operations, as their continued presence in those areas poses risks to the airport’s activities,” Ms Comino said. She said that once payments are completed, the affected residents will be required to vacate the area within 45 days to allow for continued implementation of the project.

Launching the payments, Musoma District Commissioner Mr Juma Chikoka said the exercise fulfils the government’s promise to land and property owners in the affected areas following valuation exercises. Mr Chikoka said the compensation process is part of efforts to address long-standing concerns among residents, noting that delays in payments had led some to fear they would not be compensated.

“I believe that after these payments, we will all see the benefits of this initiative, as the outcomes will soon be evident. The project is progressing at a remarkable pace,” he said.

He said that completion of the Musoma Airport will have significant social and economic impacts on Musoma and the entire Mara Region. Among the benefits, he said, will be the stimulation of local business activities and increased cash flow within the town.

“Tourists and business people will be able to start their activities right here in Musoma once they arrive at the airport. This means their financial transactions will begin here–and that’s the kind of progressive Musoma we want,” he said.

Some beneficiaries of the compensation, while expressing gratitude to the government, appealed for an extension of the relocation deadline, saying the 45-day period was too short. “We are asking for at least three months to prepare for relocation, because 45 days is not enough.

We need adequate time to find plots and build or buy suitable houses within our budgets,” said Mr Laban Ching’oro. However, Mr Chikoka promised to look into the request while urging the residents to continue with the relocation process as discussions continue.

Bondeni Street Chairperson Mr Emmanuel Baptista said the issue of compensation had been a long-standing grievance for residents, and the payments now offer a lasting solution. “For more than three years, residents have been waiting for this compensation.

It was a recurring agenda in every local meeting, as people kept raising complaints. I thank the government–this issue will no longer be a burden,” he said .

Dodoma. Luhaga Mpina’s quest for the presidency has suffered a major setback after the High Court dismissed a constitutional case he had filed together with the ACT-Wazalendo Board of Trustees.

The ruling, delivered yesterday, has prompted the opposition party to announce plans to challenge the decision in a higher court as part of its continued legal and political push for constitutional and electoral reforms. In a statement released by the Office of the Party’s legal department, ACT-Wazalendo said it would continue to work with both local and international partners in advancing its pursuit of justice and fair democratic participation.

The party called on its members and supporters to remain calm, united and focused on the broader struggle for democracy and the rule of law, reaffirming its slogan, “Tubaki wamoja, safari inaendelea” (Let’s remain united, the journey continues). “We entered this legal process seeking justice and transparency and have consistently called for equal participation in democratic processes, including elections,” the statement said.

“Even though the court did not hear our petition on its merits, we shall continue to seek justice and defend the values of democracy in our country.” According to ACT-Wazalendo, the court’s decision was based on technical legal grounds raised by the government, which questioned the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter.

The judges ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is legally protected from interference over decisions made in good faith, effectively striking out the case. Mr Mpina and the party’s Board of Trustees had challenged INEC’s decision to disqualify him from contesting for the presidency, arguing that the decision violated internal party procedures.

The judgment, in case number 24022, was delivered at the High Court’s Dodoma Main Registry by Justice Fredrick Manyanda, who led a three-judge panel that also included Justices Sylvester Kainda and Abdallah Gonzi. Justice Manyanda said the Constitution bars any institution from interfering with INEC’s mandate, noting that the commission acted within its authority.

The decision narrows Mr Mpina’s chances of appearing on the 2025 presidential ballot unless an appeal reverses the ruling and orders INEC to reinstate him in the race. Earlier, INEC had blocked Mr Mpina from submitting his nomination forms, prompting him to seek court intervention.

The court ruled in his favour, directing INEC to allow him to file his papers. However, after he submitted the forms and was initially cleared, the Attorney General lodged a new objection that INEC accepted, leading to his disqualification and the subsequent legal challenge that has now been dismissed.

With Mpina’s exclusion, the number of presidential candidates in the 2025 General Election now stands at 17, although ACT-Wazalendo maintains a strong presence in parliamentary and councillorship contests across the country. .

Dar es Salaam. Raila Odinga, the veteran Kenyan politician whose life was defined by negotiation, alliances and unrelenting ambition, passed away during a morning walk in Kerala, India.

Known as Baba–the father of the people–Odinga was both revered and criticised for his extraordinary skill in brokering deals that reshaped Kenya’s political landscape. For more than five decades, Odinga pivoted between outsider and insider, opposition and government, with remarkable fluidity.

His latest manoeuvre came after Kenya’s youth-led Gen Z protests. Though not the spark behind the movement, he emerged as the mediator, brokering a “broad-based government” deal that placed his ODM allies in President William Ruto’s Cabinet, cementing his enduring influence.

Forged in struggle Born in 1945 to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first vice-president and Mary Juma, Raila was steeped in politics from childhood. Educated in East Germany as a mechanical engineer, he returned home to teach, run a business and advocate for his father’s release when political detentions intensified.

His own ordeal began in 1982 when, after a failed Air Force coup, he was imprisoned without trial for six years at Kamiti Maximum Prison–a period that turned him into a national symbol of resistance. With the reintroduction of multiparty politics, Odinga won the Lang’ata parliamentary seat in 1992 and made his first presidential bid in 1997, finishing fourth.

In a move that shocked many, he joined President Daniel Moi’s government, demonstrating his early mastery of pragmatic politics. He held the Energy Ministry and chaired the parliamentary committee on constitutional review, cementing both influence and networks that would serve him for decades.

Mastering the art of alliances Odinga’s career was marked by high-stakes alliances. After Moi bypassed him for the presidency in favour of Uhuru Kenyatta, he returned to the opposition, helping build the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) that ended KANU’s 40-year rule in 2002. Though denied the prime ministership he expected, Odinga destabilised Kibaki’s first term from within, displaying his capacity to leverage positions of influence.

The 2005 constitutional referendum and subsequent 2007 elections saw Odinga consolidate power through the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). When the 2007 polls descended into chaos, he accepted the Kofi Annan-mediated deal that made him prime minister in a grand coalition with Kibaki–a government formed out of crisis rather than consensus.

It was within this fragile coalition that Kenya achieved the 2010 Constitution, a milestone Odinga had long championed. Despite losing the 2013 and 2017 presidential elections–the latter annulled by the Supreme Court–Odinga remained a central figure.

In 2018, he orchestrated the famous Handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta, recalibrating Kenyan politics and giving birth to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), a constitutional reform effort that ultimately failed in court but further solidified his role as kingmaker. A legacy of negotiation Odinga’s final years were defined by strategic manoeuvring rather than pursuit of the presidency.

His deal with Ruto reflected both risk and pragmatism: a former opposition leader now defending policies he once criticised. To critics, it was capitulation; to supporters, a demonstration of political survival.

Throughout his life, Raila’s influence transcended simple election outcomes. He normalised protest politics, strengthened constitutional institutions and proved that negotiation could achieve outcomes beyond raw power.

He shaped Kenya’s civic consciousness, teaching that political engagement requires both principle and pragmatism. Yet, his story was also personal.

His wife, Ida and children endured absences, detentions and political battles alongside him. Friends and allies saw a man capable of charm, calculation and unwavering loyalty–a tactician who could move seamlessly from street protest to boardroom diplomacy.

Enduring imprint Raila Odinga’s life defies tidy categorisation. He was hero and tactician, broker and reformer, populist and establishment figure.

His fingerprints are on Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, on coalition politics and on the protests that forced state accountability. He did not leave behind a perfect democracy, but he left a louder, more assertive Kenya–one in which citizens knew their voices mattered.

Odinga’s story was never about the presidency alone. It was about leverage, resilience and the enduring power of negotiation.

Even in death, Raila Odinga remains a lesson in the art of political deal-making–an institution unto himself. .