Raila Odinga is a Kenyan politician who served as the Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013.
Early life
Odinga was born on January 7, 1945, in Maseno, Kenya. He is the son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, a prominent Kenyan independence leader who served as the country’s first Vice President.
Odinga received his education in Kenya and the United Kingdom, earning a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of East London.first vice president of independent Kenya.
After earning a master’s degree in mechanical engineering in East Germany in 1970, Odinga returned to Kenya to become a lecturer at the University of Nairobi.
During his time at the university, Odinga also engaged in engineering-related business ventures, including one that would later become East African Spectre, Ltd.
He left the university in 1974 and was soon employed by the Kenya Bureau of Standards, where he attained the position of deputy director in 1978.
In the 1970s and ’80s Odinga was politically active and supported government reforms in Kenya.
In 1982 he was accused of plotting against Pres. Daniel arap Moi and was imprisoned without trial for six years. After Odinga’s release, he was twice arrested for campaigning against one-party rule, and in 1991 he sought refuge in Norway.
He returned to Kenya in 1992, however, and was elected a member of the National Assembly that year under the banner of the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy–Kenya (FORD–K), the party led by his father.
After his father’s death in 1994, Odinga became embroiled in a leadership struggle within the party and in 1996 left FORD–K and joined the National Development Party (NDP
Odinga entered politics in the 1980s and has held various positions in government, including Minister for Energy and Minister for Roads. He has been a vocal critic of corruption in Kenyan politics and has led efforts to reform the country’s political system.
In 2007, Odinga ran for President of Kenya but lost to Mwai Kibaki. After the election, Odinga and his supporters accused the government of rigging the vote, leading to widespread violence and unrest.
In 2008, a power-sharing agreement was reached and Odinga was appointed as Prime Minister. He served in this role until 2013, when he ran for President again and lost.
Raila Odinga ran for President in 2017 Under NASA Coalition and was deputised by Kalonzo Musyoka. The duo lost to Uhuru Kenyatta of Jubilee Party.
In 2022, Raila Odinga ran for President together with Martha Karua under the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party and lost narrowly to William Ruto of United Democratic Alliance, UDA.
Raila Odinga Detained
There have been several instances in which Raila Odinga has been detained by authorities in Kenya.
In 1982, Odinga was arrested and detained by the government of President Daniel arap Moi for his role in organizing a rally to protest the arrest of opposition leader Koigi wa Wamwere. He was later released without charge.
In 1990, Odinga was detained again by the government, this time for his involvement in a campaign to challenge the one-party rule of President Moi’s government. He was later released on bail.
In 2007, after the disputed presidential election, Odinga was detained by authorities for several days on suspicion of inciting violence. He was released on bail and charged with incitement to violence, but the charges were later dropped.
It is worth noting that Odinga has also been placed under house arrest on several occasions, in which he was prohibited from leaving his residence without permission from authorities.
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