Kenya opposition splits one year after Raila Odinga death

Kenya's opposition movement is struggling to maintain unity one year after the death of its longtime leader Raila Odinga, Al Jazeera reported. The Orange Democratic Movement is currently experiencing a bitter internal dispute over its decision to cooperate with President William Ruto. The disagreement has created major divisions regarding the political identity and independence of the party in Nairobi. [1]

The internal political struggle raises broader questions about whether the opposition can remain a credible political force without Odinga, according to Al Jazeera. Odinga's death was marked by public tributes celebrating his decades of work for political reform. His career was defined by efforts to secure multiparty democracy, constitutional reform, freedom of expression, and social justice. [1]

Odinga served as the prime minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013 and represented the Lang'ata constituency in parliament for over two decades. He ran for president five times, including campaigns in 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022, but was never officially declared the winner. He previously served as the minister for energy and minister for roads, and spent years in prison during the 1980s for his opposition activities. [5][6]

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta stated that Odinga actually won the 2022 presidential election rather than William Ruto, the Eastleigh Voice reported. The ongoing divisions within the Orange Democratic Movement continue to test the legacy of the late political figure as the party decides on its future direction. [1][3]