Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga with Mzee John Mwavuda, his former prison guard during his detention period in Manyani maximum prison on March 2, 2021/RAILA ODINGA/X
As Kenya mourns the passing of Raila Odinga, The Star turns to the images that have chronicled his extraordinary journey, from a young revolutionary to a revered statesman.
This photo retrospective offers a powerful visual narrative of a man whose life was inseparable from the country’s political evolution.
Born in 1945 in Maseno, Raila’s early years were shaped by the legacy of his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first Vice President.
Archival photos show Raila as a young man with intensity and quiet determination which foreshadowed the firebrand leader he would become.
In the 1980s, Raila emerged as a fierce critic of authoritarian rule.
Images from this era, some grainy, others defiant, show him in prison. These photos became symbols of resistance, capturing the cost of his convictions and the courage that defined his activism.
The 1990s and early 2000s brought transformation. Raila’s political ascent was marked by vibrant campaign rallies, tense parliamentary debates and moments of triumph.
In 2008, Raila became Prime Minister under a historic power-sharing agreement following post-election violence.
Photos from this period depict him in statesmanlike poses working alongside President Mwai Kibaki.
These images reflect a man who had transitioned from opposition to governance, still carrying the weight of reform.
Beyond politics, Raila’s personal life was also captured in tender frames. Pictures of him with his wife, Ida, and his children revealed a softer, more intimate side.
His final days in India, where he sought treatment, remain private.
As Kenya prepares to honor Raila Odinga with memorials and tributes, these images serve not only as a record of history but as a celebration of a life lived in service of the people.
They remind us that Raila was more than a politician; he was a symbol, a movement, and a mirror of the nation’s hopes.
Raila Odinga at the University of Nairobi in 1972/COURTESY
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga with his wife, Ida Odinga, in 1979/HANDOUT 
Raila Odinga during his detention period in Manyani maximum prison in the 1980s/RAILA ODINGA/X
The late President Daniel Arap Moi, after entering into a
deal with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga/File
The
late President Mwai Kibaki and the late ODM leader Raila Odinga during the peace
signing ceremony after 2007/08 PEV at the steps of Harambee House/FILE
Former president Uhuru Kenyatta greets opposition leader
Raila Odinga after addressing a news conference at the Harambee House
office in Nairobi on March 9, 2018./FILE
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga graces Kabarak University Graduation ceremony/Screengrab
Then Azimio co-principals former Prime Minister Raila Odinga,
former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka/FILE
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga with his wife Ida Odinga and their daughters/HANDOUT
Former PM Raila Odinga and his family/FILE
Former PM Raila Odinga and his family/FILE
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga/FILE
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga/File
