Raila Amolo Odinga is an influential and experienced Kenyan politician. Throughout his career, he has held many important positions, including the position of Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013.
He also served as Member of Parliament for Langata Constituency from 1992 to 2013 and currently serves as Leader of the Opposition in Kenya.
As leader of the Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Alliance Party, Odinga continued to play a key role in shaping Kenya’s political landscape.
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- Full name: Raila Amolo Odinga
- Stage name: Raila Odinga
- Date of birth: January 7, 1945
- Age: 79 years old
- Place of birth: Maseno, Kenya
- Nationality: Kenya
- Occupation: Kenyan politician.
- Height: 5’8
- Parents: Mary Juma Odinga, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
- Siblings: 3, Oburu Odinga, Wenwa Akinyi Odinga and Ruth Odinga.
- Spouse: Ida Odinga (Ida Anyango Oyoo)
- (m. 1973)
- Children: 4, Fidel Odinga(1973–2015), Rosemary Odinga(born 1977), Raila Jr. Odinga (born 1979) and Winnie Odinga (born 1990)
- Relationship: married
- Net worth: $1 million to $10 million
Early life and education
Raila Amolo Odinga was born on January 7, 1945 in Maseno, Kenya. He was raised by his parents Mary Juma Odinga and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
His father served as the first Vice President of Kenya under President Jomo Kenyatta. He grew up with three siblings: Oburu Odinga, Wenwa Akinyi Odinga and Ruth Odinga. He is of the Luo ethnic group and follows Christianity.
Odinga attended Kisumu Union Primary School, Maranda Primary School in Bondo and Maranda High School until 1962 when he was transferred to Germany by his father.
He spent the next two years at the Herder Institute, which trained foreign students in German. He was a member of the philological faculty at the University of Leipzig in East Germany.
In 1965, he received a scholarship to study at the Technische Hochschule of Magdeburg (now part of the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg) in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). He graduated in 1970 with a certificate in Korean.
Career
Raila Amolo Odinga has made significant contributions to the development of the Kenyan economy.
In 1970, he returned to Kenya and founded Standard Handling Equipment Construction & Installation Ltd, which later became the East African Phantom.
The company is the only company in Kenya that produces liquid gas cylinders and plays a vital role in providing safe and affordable cooking utensils to the people.
In 1974, Odinga joined the Kenya Bureau of Standards as group standards manager, and in 1978 he was promoted to deputy director, a position he held until his detention in 1982.
His leadership and expertise in the area of standards and quality control has helped improve the overall quality of products and services in Kenya.
The 1982 Raila Amolo Odinga coup in Kenya was a failed attempt by Private Hezekiah Ochuka and a group of soldiers from the Kenya Air Force to overthrow then-president Daniel Arap Moi.
As a result of this effort, President Moi reorganized Kenya’s security architecture, granting himself emergency powers and placing the provincial government under his direct control.
Opposition leader Raila Amolo Odinga was accused of being one of the masterminds behind the coup and was arrested and charged with treason.
He was released six years later but was detained again in 1988 and released in 1989. This event marked an important turning point in Kenyan politics and had a lasting impact on the government and leadership. country religion.
Raila Amolo Odinga has a controversial past in Kenyan politics. Although he was a prominent figure in the country’s fight for democracy, he also faced serious accusations and consequences for his actions.
In 1982, Odinga was placed under house arrest for seven months and later charged with treason for his alleged involvement in a failed coup plot against President Daniel Arap Moi.
Although he was eventually released, a biography released 14 years later revealed that Odinga was more involved in the coup than he had previously admitted.
While some people called for his arrest and charges, the statute of limitations had passed. His past actions continue to be the subject of debate and controversy in Kenya.
Social Media
- Instagram name:@railaodinga5th
- Facebook manager: Raila Odinga
Personal life
Raila Amolo Odinga is a prominent Kenyan politician and statesman, best known for serving as Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013.
He is married to Ida Odinga (Ida Anyango Oyoo) and they have four children Fidel Odinga (1973–2015), Rosemary Odinga (born 1977), Raila Jr. Odinga (born 1979) and Winnie Odinga (born 1990).
They reside in Karen, Nairobi and have a second home at Central Farm in Siaya District. Unfortunately, their eldest son Fidel Odinga passed away in 2015 at the age of 41.
Odinga and his wife named their son Fidel after Fidel Castro and their daughter Winnie after Winnie Mandela.
Winnie is currently studying Communication and International Area Studies at Drexel University in Philadelphia and is also Kenya’s representative to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
Previously, Odinga was also involved in sports and played football for Luo Union (now Gor Mahia) as a midfielder.
Net worth
Raila Amolo Odinga is an influential and experienced Kenyan politician. His estimated net worth falls between $1 million and $10 million, making him a wealthy individual.
However, it is important to note that his wealth and success are not the only measures of his impact and influence as a leader.
