Can Kenya Preserve the Democratic Space Raila Odinga Fought For?

One year after the death of the former prime minister, Kenyans are reflecting on his contribution to democracy and national reconciliation. Odinga's "handshake" with his political rivals remains a subject of much debate.

15/10/2026 15 October 2026 A year after the former prime minister's death, Kenyans are reflecting on his contribution to democracy and national reconciliation. Odinga's "handshake" with his political rivals remains the subject of much debate.

As Kenya marks the first anniversary of Raila Odinga's death on Thursday, the former prime minister remains a prominent figure in the country. For many, he is a symbol of the struggle for multi-party democracy and constitutional reform in Kenya. For others, his subsequent political alliances raise questions about compromise, opposing policies and the direction of the movement he built.

The question is not just how the country will remember Odinga - but whether the principles he stood for can survive. "I want his legacy to live on beyond the party," Nairobi resident Beatrice Chebet, 20, told DW.

Chebet said Odinga wanted a Kenya based on peace, democracy, the constitution and the rule of law. Chebet says the younger generations should carry these dreams forward.

Chebet said Odinga's political journey became part of the country's history and the experience of Kenyan youth. "Some of us were General Zs," Chebet said. "We did not know any form of multi-partyism without reading Raila."

Odinga's influence was shaped by decades of opposition politics, detentions and struggles for democratic change. His role in the disputed 2007 presidential election put 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.

An internationally brokered power-sharing agreement led by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan made Odinga prime minister in a coalition government with President Mwai Kibaki. The settlement also created an agenda of reforms, including changing the constitution. Kenya adopted a new constitution in 2010 that introduced a devolved system of government.

Security and intelligence strategist Byron Adra said Odinga's influence goes beyond electoral politics. "Raila was an institution that shook institutions and brought lasting and highly impactful institutional reforms for the betterment of Kenya," Adra told DW. He cites constitutional reform and efforts to bring together competing political interests as important parts of Odinga's legacy.

A look at the life of Kenyan Raila Odinga

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Reconciliation also became one of the most controversial aspects of Odinga's career. His "handshake" of reconciliation with Kibaki in 2008 and President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018 and working with President William Ruto in 2024 indicated his willingness to pursue political agreements with former rivals.

Supporters saw dialogue as a way to reduce tensions and advance national interests. Critics asked what such an arrangement would mean for an independent opposition. Former Deputy President Rigati Gachagwa has strongly criticized the political closeness between President William Ruto and the late Raila Odinga.

In May, Gachagua called the handshake process "absurd" and said it had undermined Kenya's democracy by undermining the opposition's ability to hold the government to account. His position offers a contrasting view of the alliances that shaped Odinga's later political years.

Debate over Odinga's legacy is particularly fierce within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the party he helped found and led for many years.

Edwin Sifuna, a possible presidential candidate in the 2027 election, who describes Odinga as both his leader and friend, said ODM's identity and direction had fundamentally changed. "We are in danger of losing our core support, people who believed in ODM's ideals, because we have always been the people's party," Sifona told DW.

Sifuna said Odinga's impact on national politics and public debate has been largely overlooked. His comments point to a central challenge for ODM: whether it can maintain its identity and relevance to ordinary Kenyans while navigating a changing political landscape. However, in an attempt to keep Odinga's name in politics, Raila Odinga's daughter, Winnie Odinga, has announced that she will run for Nairobi County Senator in the 2027 election.

Chebet said Odinga's legacy will be measured by future generations continuing to defend the principles associated with his political journey. At the same time, Adra emphasizes the continuing importance of institutional reforms and building bridges.

Their views highlight the tension at the heart of Odinga's legacy: a leader remembered for expanding democratic possibilities, but whose political compromises remain debatable. A year after his death, Odinga's influence is still visible in political debates, party divisions and public calls for democratic accountability in Kenya.

The lasting test will be whether Kenya's institutions, political parties and young generation can carry these principles forward - and whether the democratic atmosphere that Odinga helped create can last beyond the man himself.

Katie Short Reporter for DW Africa covering hard news and features on the AfricaLink podcast.