In October 2025, Kenya lost one of its most iconic leaders: Raila Odinga, who passed away at 80. More than a politician, he was a symbol of hope, resistance, and reform. His politics, dubbed Odingaism, blended charisma, regional mobilisation, and reformist rhetoric rooted in the Luo-Nyanza heartland but resonating nationwide. With his departure, Kenya faces a turning point: can Odingaism survive without its founder? And if not, who, or what, will fill the void?
Legacy of Odingaism
Odingaism was never merely party politics. It was an idea: that power should be shared, that devolution mattered, and that electoral justice was not optional. Odinga’s long struggle - detentions, exile, repeated presidential bids - gave him credibility and a personal brand of politics grounded in reform and resistance. His life was allegedly driven by a strong belief in the ability of ordinary citizens to determine their own political and economic destiny.
He changed the opposition landscape. In Western Kenya and across Nyanza, his name meant hope for inclusion, audible through rallies, mobilisation, and a brand of politics bound to an identity and promise. A major legacy: the 2010 Constitution and devolution framework, which reshaped governance in Kenya.
Within the umbrella of Odingaism, many politicians found a platform. Governors, senators, and MPs rose with his brand: the movement gave them profile, networks, and access. Yet the very strength of a leader-centred movement also planted its own contradiction: when one person becomes the brand, the movement’s longevity depends on their continuing presence and charisma.
The Political Vacuum
With Odinga gone, the first challenge is: who leads? The umbrella movement, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), and the broader Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition face the sharp risk of internal fragmentation. Media coverage shows ODM preparing to honour Odinga’s legacy while simultaneously facing by-election tests that will expose its cohesion in a post-“Baba” era.
Many politicians who rode Odinga’s wave may find their political profile diminished, particularly those whose capital was built on his brand rather than independent legacy. In Nyanza and beyond, new dynamics will emerge: younger leaders, digitised movements, issue-based politics rather than person-based loyalty.
Beyond Personality Politics
This moment offers Kenya a potential transition, from personality-driven politics to principle-based politics. The test will be institutional: can ODM and Azimio redefine themselves? Can leaders articulate policy and ideology without constantly invoking “Baba”’s name? Equally, the opposition space may open for new entrants who speak to younger, urban voters less tethered by ethnic loyalty and more by issue-based activism.
But there’s risk. When a nationalist icon leaves the stage, movements often fracture or lose momentum. The absence of a designated heir or clear transition path could invite internal power struggles, weakening the movement and letting rivals capture its base. Without an ideological anchor beyond one man, Odingaism may fade, or be re-branded entirely.
Institutions and Reform
Odingaism’s legacy also rests in Kenya’s institutions: an independent judiciary, electoral reforms, devolution frameworks. Odinga’s repeated legal challenges and political activism helped strengthen these institutions.
Donors and civil society have a crucial role. As Kenya moves into the next chapter, support for transparent institutions, digital accountability and generational leadership development will matter. If the movement can convert charisma into structure, into think-tanks, leadership academies, policy platforms, then the spirit of Odingaism may endure in new form.
A Movement at a Crossroads
Odingaism was built around a person. But a mature democracy cannot remain hostage to one individual’s presence. Kenya now stands at a crossroads: either Odingaism evolves into a principle-anchored movement, one built on values, institutions and ideas, or it risks fading into history as “the Baba era”. For millions who clung to the promise of fairness, reform and justice, the challenge now is to build politics of conviction, not devotion. The question isn’t just who replaces Raila Odinga, it’s whether Kenya replaces personality with principle.
Pharis Gichanga
Policy Analyst
