Kenyan political stalwart Raila Odinga, affectionately known as “Baba,” has died at 80 during a health visit to India, sending shockwaves through the nation. Odinga, a perennial presidential candidate who ran five times unsuccessfully, was a dominant and fiery figure for decades and a central force in the fight for multi-party democracy. He collapsed at an Ayurvedic clinic in Kerala and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Odinga’s passing creates a massive leadership vacuum, as no other opposition figure possesses his unique ability to mobilize widespread support. News of his passing triggered an immediate outpouring of grief, with supporters mourning in his strongholds. Tributes poured in from across Africa, honoring Odinga as a patriot and a visionary leader whose legacy will forever shape the nation’s history.
Le Monde