Raila Odinga, born on January 7, 1945, is a prominent Kenyan politician who served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013. He currently leads the Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Party.
RAILA ODINGA PROFILE
| Name | Raila Odinga |
| Real Name | Raila Amolo Odinga |
| Date Of Birth | 7 January 1945 |
| Age | 80 Years |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Occupation | Politician, Engineer and Businessman |
| Religion | Christian |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Net Worth | $50 Million |
| Copied From | Contents101.com |
RAILA ODINGA BIOGRAPHY
Raila Amolo Odinga was born on January 7, 1945, in Maseno, Kisumu District, in the former Nyanza Province of Kenya. He is the son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, a leading figure in Kenya’s independence struggle and the country’s first Vice President.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
He began his education at Maranda High School. He later traveled to East Germany, where he pursued higher education. He studied mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Magdeburg (now Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg), graduating in 1970.
After returning to Kenya, he briefly lectured at the University of Nairobi before transitioning into public service and business.
CAREER
Odinga worked at the Kenya Bureau of Standards, where he rose to the position of deputy director. He also founded a private company, Spectre International, which specialized in the manufacturing of gas cylinders.
Political Career
Raila’s political journey began during the struggle for multi-party democracy in Kenya. He was detained without trial several times in the 1980s due to his opposition to President Daniel arap Moi’s regime.
- In 1992, he was elected as Member of Parliament for Lang’ata Constituency.
- Over the years, he was affiliated with several political parties including FORD-Kenya, NDP, LDP, and finally the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
- He served as:
- Minister of Energy (2001–2002)
- Minister of Roads and Public Works (2003–2005)
- In 2008, following the post-election crisis, Raila became Kenya’s second Prime Minister, serving in a power-sharing deal with President Mwai Kibaki until 2013.
He has run for the presidency five times (1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022) but has never been officially declared the winner, although many of these contests were heavily disputed. In 2018, he was appointed as the African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development, a role he held until 2023.
CONTROVERSIES
–1982 Coup Attempt: Raila was accused of involvement in the failed coup attempt against President Moi. He was detained without trial for six years, though he has denied direct involvement.
-Election Disputes: Raila has been at the center of several disputed presidential elections (especially in 2007 and 2017), which led to national unrest and court interventions.
–Handshake with Uhuru Kenyatta (2018): After years of rivalry, Raila shocked many by reconciling with President Uhuru Kenyatta in a symbolic gesture known as “The Handshake,” which divided public opinion and altered the political landscape.
-BBI (Building Bridges Initiative): Raila championed the BBI constitutional amendment project, which was later declared unconstitutional by Kenya’s courts
RAILA ODINGA SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLE
https://www.instagram.com/railaodinga5th/?hl=en
PERSONAL LIFE
Raila is married to Ida Odinga, and they have four children: Fidel (deceased), Rosemary, Winnie, and Raila Jr. His daughter, Winnie Odinga, is active in politics and was elected to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) in 2022.
Raila is widely referred to by his supporters as “Baba,” meaning “father” in Swahili.
RAILA ODINGA NET WORTH
Raila Odinga’s estimated net worth is believed to be around $50 million USD.