Raila Odinga Biography
Raila Odinga is a Kenyan politician and businessman who served as the Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013. Odinga is assumed as the Leader of the Opposition in Kenya since 2013. In addition, he was the Member of Parliament for Langata from 1992 to 2007.
Born in Maseno, Kisumu District, he attended Kisumu Union Primary and Maranda High School where he studied until 1962 and was transferred by his father to Germany. He spent the next two years at the Herder institution, which would train foreign students in the German language. While there, he was also part of the philological faculty at the University of Leipzig in East Germany.
Later on, he earned a scholarship that sent him to the Technical School, Magdeburg. In 1970, he graduated with a diploma in Mechanical Engineering and Welding. Raila returned to Kenya in the same year and established Standard Processing Equipment Construction & Erection Ltd in 1971.
He served in the Cabinet of Kenya as Minister for Energy from 2001 to 2002 and as the Minister for Roads, Public Works, and Housing from 2003 to 2005. Later on in 2018, Raila was appointed High Representative for Infrastructure Development at the African Union Commission.
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Commonly known as “Baba”, Raila was an MP at the same time as his father between 1992 and 1994. Most notably, he first ran for president in the 1997 General Elections, coming third after President Daniel Arap Moi of KANU and Mwai Kibaki of the Democratic Party.
Later in the 2007 general elections, he contested for the presidency again on an Orange Democratic Movement ticket. Raila had the majority of the votes in Rift Valley, Western, Nyanza, and Coast. Kibaki on the other hand had the majority of his votes from Nairobi, North Eastern Province, Central Province, and Eastern Province.
However, after the elections, the Kriegler report stated that about 1.2 million dead voters existed in the voters’ register, raising serious doubts about the integrity of the election. After Kibaki was declared the winner on December 30, 2007, Raila disputed the results.
Following the truce between Raila and President Kenyatta, they commissioned a joint task force. The main duty of the task force would be to collect views from Kenyans and report their findings. After touring the country and holding consultive sessions, the team compiled a report. The report was subtitled by President Kenyatta at State House Nairobi on 26 November 2019.
Raila announced on December 10, 2021, that he will be eyeing a fifth stab at the presidency, putting an end to months of suspense after his surprise truce with President Kenyatta. This announcement was made when he was launching the Azimio La Umoja Convention. In 2022, Raila lost to Ruto in the 2022 presidential elections.
Raila Odinga Age
How old is Odinga? Odinga is 78 years old as of 2023. He was born on January 7, 1945, in Maseno, Kisumu District, Nyanza Province, Kenya, Africa. In addition, he celebrates his birthday on January 7 and his zodiac sign is Capricorn.
Raila Odinga Height
Odinga stands at an average height and is of moderate weight. However, his exact body measurements are not known and will be updated.
Raila Odinga Family | Father
Odinga is a proud son of Jaramog Oginga Odinga (father) and Mary Juma (mother). His father served as the first Vice President of Kenya. In addition, he has three siblings, Oburu Odinga, Wemwa Akinyi Odinga, and Ruth Odinga.
Raila Odinga Wife | Marriage | Children
Odinga is happily married to his supportive wife, Ida Odinga. They got married in 1973. In addition, they are blessed with four children, two sons, Fidel Odinga and Raila Odinga Jr, and two daughters Rosemary Odinga and Winnie Odinga.
Raila Odinga Net Worth
Odinga has an estimated net worth of $250 Million which he has been able to garner with the help of his career and assets.