After the death of Ford Kenya Chairman Michael Kijana Wamalwa in August 2003, Raila Odinga faced a significant challenge in securing the support of Kenya’s western region, often called the “Mulembe nation,” despite it later becoming his stronghold.

• Before Wamalwa's death, Raila's influence was primarily in his Luo Nyanza region and parts of Nairobi.
• The article details the effort and strategy Raila Odinga employed to gain acceptance in the Mulembe nation.
• Leaders in the Mt Kenya region had previously portrayed Raila Odinga as a scaremonger and unfit to lead.

Raila Odinga, even after his passing, is being remembered for his significant contributions to advancing gender equality in Kenyan politics, particularly through his support for women in leadership roles and championing the two-thirds gender rule.

• Raila Odinga was instrumental in catapulting several women into elective seats, including supporting Governor Gladys Wanga in the male-dominated Homa Bay gubernatorial race.
• He notably selected People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua as his running mate for the 2022 presidential election, a historic moment for women in Kenyan politics.
• The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), under Raila, introduced a polling system where women scoring over 50 per cent received direct party tickets, as confirmed by Dr. Eve Obara.
• Former nominated MP for persons with disability Denita Ghati states that every Woman Representative in the country owes their seat to Raila Odinga, crediting his fight for a multiparty system and the new constitution.
• Dr. Pamela Odhiambo highlighted Raila's establishment of a women’s wing within the ODM, creating space for women's active participation from the grassroots to the national level.

This article reflects on the impactful three-decade political career of Raila Odinga, highlighting his central role in Kenyan politics. His departure leaves a significant void, with the challenge of finding a successor to fill his influential position.

• Raila Odinga was a pivotal figure in Kenyan politics for three decades, influencing both opposition and government.
• He was simultaneously loved and hated, trusted and feared, praised and condemned, depending on political alignment.
• His exit creates a challenge for leaders to find a worthy replacement to fill his substantial political shoes.

The early life of Raila Odinga, a prominent Kenyan political figure, was significantly shaped by a visit to Industrial Area Prison in Nairobi at the tender age of three. This unusual family reunion, initiated by his grandfather Justo, offered Raila his first encounter with incarceration.

• Raila Odinga's first experience with prison occurred when he was 3 years old.
• The visit was orchestrated by his grandfather, Justo.
• The location of this formative childhood event was Industrial Area Prison in Nairobi.

The early life of Raila Odinga, a prominent Kenyan political figure, was significantly shaped by his family's experiences with political detention. His first encounter with prison occurred at the tender age of three, during a visit to his grandfather, Justo Odinga, at Industrial Area Prison in Nairobi.

• Raila Odinga's first prison visit was at three years old.
• The visit was to see his grandfather, Justo Odinga.
• The reunion took place at Industrial Area Prison in Nairobi.