Raila Odinga's legacy: Can Kenya preserve the democratic space he helped create?

One year after Raila Odinga's death, the former Kenyan prime minister remains a towering figure in the country's political life. For many, he symbolizes the struggle for multiparty democracy and constitutional reforms in Kenya. For others, his later political alliances raise questions about compromise, opposition politics and the direction of the movement he built.

As Kenya marks the first anniversary of his death on October 15, 2026, the question is not only how the country remembers Odinga, but whether the principles he championed can survive beyond him. "I want his legacy to live beyond the party," says 20-year-old, Beatrice Chebet, a Nairobi resident, reflecting on the values she believes should define his legacy.

She points to the Kenya Odinga wanted: a country grounded in peace, democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law. Chebet says younger generations must carry those aspirations forward.

"Some of us were Gen Zs. We did not know any form of multipartism without reading Raila,” she told DW, describing how his political journey became part of the country's history and the experience of younger Kenyans.

A legacy forged in struggle

Odinga's political influence was shaped by decades of opposition politics, detentions, and campaigns for democratic change. His role in the disputed 2007 presidential election placed him at the center of one of Kenya's most consequential political crises. The post-election violence killed more than 1,100 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.

A power-sharing agreement brokered with international mediation led by the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, made Odinga prime minister in a coalition government with President Mwai Kibaki. The settlement also established a reform agenda, including constitutional change. Kenya adopted a new constitution in 2010, introducing a devolved system of government.

For security expert Byron Adera, Odinga's impact extended beyond electoral politics. "Raila was an institution that rocked institutions, bringing about lasting and very impactful institutional reforms for the betterment of Kenya," Adera told DW. He identifies constitutional reform and efforts to bring competing political interests together as important parts of Odinga's legacy.

Yet reconciliation also became one of the most contested aspects of his career. His so-called 'handshakes' of reconciliation with Kibaki (2008), President Uhuru Kenyatta (2018), followed by later cooperation with President William Ruto (2024), illustrated his willingness to pursue political agreements with former rivals.

Whereas supporters saw dialogue as a way to reduce tensions and advance national interests; critics questioned what such arrangements meant for an independent opposition. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has strongly criticized the political rapprochement between President William Ruto and the late Raila Odinga.

In May 2026, he described the handshake process as "nonsense" and argued that it had eroded Kenya's democracy by weakening the opposition's ability to hold the government accountable. His position offers a contrasting view of the alliances that shaped Odinga's later political years.

What happens to Odinga's ODM party?

The debate over Odinga's legacy is especially pressing within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the party he helped found and led for years.

Edwin Sifuna, a potential presidential candidate in the 2027 election, who describes Odinga as both his leader and friend, says the party's identity and direction have changed fundamentally. "We run the risk of losing our core support, people who believed in the ideals of ODM, because we were always the party of the people," Sifuna told DW.

He adds that Odinga's influence on national politics and public debate is greatly missed. His remarks point to a central challenge for ODM: whether it can preserve its identity and connection with ordinary Kenyans while navigating a changing political landscape. However, in a bid to keep the Odinga name in politics, Winnie Odinga, daughter of Raila Odinga, declared that she will run for Senator of Nairobi County in the 2027 election.

For Chebet, Odinga's legacy will be measured by whether future generations continue to defend the principles associated with his political journey. Adera, meanwhile, emphasizes the lasting importance of institutional reform and building bridges.

Their perspectives highlight the tension at the heart of Odinga's legacy: a leader remembered for expanding democratic possibilities, but whose political compromises remain debatable. A year after his death, his influence is still visible in Kenya's political arguments, party divisions and public calls for democratic accountability.

The lasting test will be whether Kenya's institutions, political parties and younger generation can carry those principles forward and whether the democratic space Odinga helped shape can endure beyond the man himself.