Former Kenya Prime Minister Raila Odinga don die

Former Kenya Prime Minister Raila Odinga don die at di age of 80 im family don confam.

Odinga die on Wednesday for India wia e dey receive medical treatment for one hospital.

Rumours bin spread about im health in recent week, although im family members and political party bin dismiss di reports say e dey critically ill.

As opposition leader, Odinga lost all five of im presidential campaigns, wit two of di votes wey lead to violence and deaths.

Im work as democracy activist ova di years bin help to confam two of di kontri most important reforms: multiparty democracy for 1991 and new constitution for 2010.

E bin lead di protests afta di 2007 election wey throw di kontri into im most serious episode of political violence since independence. Na about 1,300 pipo die and hundreds of thousands bin dey displaced from dia homes for di battles

Afta im most recent defeat for 2022, e later join President William Ruto for govment, dis move bring several of im allies into key positions.

E defend dis move as necessary for national unity, dis na afta di nationwide protest last year wia dozens of protesters die during dia confrontations wit security officers afta dem storm di parliaments.

Di Ruto administration back Odinga bid to become di chairperson of di African Union Commission, in di elections wey hold earlier dis year. Despite di strong regional support, e lose to Djibouti representative Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.

Odinga inspire many throughout im political career, especially for western Kenya, wia e come from.

Im supporters dey call am "Baba" (Father), "Agwambo" (Act of God), and "Tinga" (Tractor) - wey dem get from im party symbol during di 1997 elections.

Dem dey widely regard am as di master strategist and mass mobiliser, e dey always draw big crowds to im political rallies, and e get deep ability to connect wit di ordinary pipo.

Pipo go remember am for im strong fight for democratic freedoms and human rights.

Na former political prisoner, and e hold di record for di Kenyan longest-serving detainee. Im struggle against one-party dictatorship make dem detain am twice (from 1982 to 1988 and 1989 to 1991) during di rule of Daniel arap Moi.

Initially dem imprison am for trying to stage coup in 1982, na dis make am national icon.

Reactions from Africa leaders as dem mourn di death of Raila Odinga

President of di Republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema tok say e dey saddened to hear di passing of Odinga as im extend in condolence to di Kenyan pipo.

"Saddened to hear of di passing of former PM @RailaOdinga. We extend our deepest condolences to di pipo of Kenya, di Odinga family, President @WilliamsRuto and all di pipo wey dey touch by dis towering advocate for democracy. Im legacy go endure. May im rest in eternal peace. HH"

Kenya former chief justice, and current presidential candidate, David Maraga tok say di news about di death of Odinga "shock" am.

Maraga tok say Kenya don lose one of im formidable leaders.

"Kenya don lose one of im most formidable leaders wey shape di trajectory of our beloved kontri. Africa don lose one of im leading voice wey dey push for peace, security and development. Di world don lose great leader," e tok.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for X also send im condolence to di family, "On behalf of di Govment of Ethiopia, I extend my sincere condolences on di passing of former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga. May im rest in peace."

President of India, Narendra Modi ontop im X page tok say e dey deeply saddened by di passing of im dear friend and former Prime Minister of Kenya, Mr. Raila Odinga.

"E get special affection for India, our culture, values and ancient wisdom. Dis dey reflected in im efforts to strengthen India-Kenya ties. E particularly admire Ayurveda and traditional medicine systems of India, afta e don witness dia positive impact on im daughter health. I extend my deepest condolences to im family, friends and to di people of Kenya in dis hour of grief," e tok.

Raila Odinga: Profile

Raila Odinga na one of Kenya most influential and enduring political figures even though e attempt to run for presidency five times but e fail.

For years, di firebrand politician tanda tall as ogbonge campaigner and defender of multi-party democracy - many of im supporters adore am.

Dem dey fondly call am "Baba", wey mean father.

Di death of di opposition leader no only mark di end of an era fordi ogbonge pan-Africanist, but e also leave significant space for Kenya opposition as di kontri dey ginger for di 2027 elections.

Although Odinga come from one famous Kenyan family, di political crown no gree come im side throughout im years of career - just as im father too miss am. Im father bin serve as vice-president afta independence from UK.

For 2022, Odinga bin shoot im fifth shot at di presidency, afta e almost taste di position for di top job for 2008, wen dem appoint am as prime minister inside one coalition govment.

For February, e lose di race to lead di African Union Commission to Djibouti foreign affairs minister.

Despite im political misfortunes, Odinga na strong political force wey tanda gidigba, e dey very influential sotay successive Kenyan presidents bin struggle to govern easily without im support.

Last year, President William Ruto bin reach out to Odinga for one political deal wey see am appoint opposition leaders for im cabinet.

E be strong football fan and supporter of English premier league club Arsenal, Odinga come from di Luo ethnic group - wey be di fourth largest for Kenya.

E get passionate followers, and im adoring fans get different nicknames for am like "Agwambo" (Act of God) and "Tinga" (Tractor) - wey dem carry from im party symbol for di 1997 election.

Many pipo dey imitate im signature slow-motion dance wey e dey dance for rallies for social gatherings - di reggae dance dey popularly known as "The Raila Dance".

For di 2022 presidential election, Odinga bin chose former Justice Minister Martha Karua as im running mate. Move wey dey widely welcomed, as dat na di first time a presidential front-runner go choose woman as im deputy.

Pipo bin see Odinga as di political heir to im father, Jaramogi Odinga, wey be Kenya first vice-president afta independence. E waka out of di govment for 1966 afta e fall out wit di den-leader Jomo Kenyatta.

Raila Odinga also na former political prisoner, and e get record for being Kenya longest-serving detainee.

Im struggle against one-party dictatorship bin make dem detain am twice (from 1982 to 1988 and 1989 to 1991) during di rule of Jomo Kenyatta successor, Daniel arap Moi.

Dem bin initially sentence am to jail on top accuse say e try stage coup for 1982.

Di African Union (AU) bin appoint am to mediate for di 2010-2011 political crisis wey bin hapun for Ivory Coast afta di den-President Laurent Gbagbo no gree give up power afta e lose to Alassane Ouattara for di elections.

However, im efforts to solve di problems fail, as Gbagbo reject am as a mediator, and accuse am say e dey biased towards Ouattara.

For im spare time, Odinga dey dey gym, and dey waka for im neighbourhood for Nairobi, and for im village for Siaya in western Kenya.

Dem born am on 7 January 1945 for Maseno for Kisumu county, and e study for wetin be di den East Germany. E get master's degree in mechanical engineering in 1970.

Odinga dey married to Mama Ida and togeda dem get four children - di late Fidel, Rosemary, Raila Junior and Winnie.