By Caleb Koyo, AUK Media- Nairobi

Kenya is in mourning after the death of Raila Amolo Odinga, the former prime minister and enduring opposition leader whose name defined Kenyan politics for more than four decades.

The 80-year-old died on Wednesday in India, where he was receiving medical treatment. According to reports, Odinga suffered a cardiac arrest while out for a morning walk. His passing has plunged Kenya into grief — and uncertainty about the nation’s political future.

A Nation Falls Silent

Nairobi moved with its usual restless energy on Tuesday. But by Wednesday morning, when the news broke, the city fell still. Markets slowed, offices froze mid-routine, and the streets filled with crowds desperate to confirm what few could believe.

President William Ruto declared seven days of national mourning and ordered flags flown at half-mast. “Kenya has lost a statesman, a patriot, and one of Africa’s greatest sons,” Ruto said in a national address.

Farewell to “Baba”

By Friday, Nyayo National Stadium was a sea of emotion. Tens of thousands of mourners waved Kenyan flags, raised portraits of Odinga, and held green branches — a symbol of mourning among the Luo, his people. The casket, draped in the national flag, was borne through a military procession as chants of “Raila usilale, bado mapambano!” (“Raila, don’t sleep, the struggle continues”) rippled through the crowd.

Security was tight. Three people had died the day before during the public viewing of Odinga’s body at Parliament. Police and soldiers patrolled the stands as dignitaries from across the region — including the presidents of Somalia and Ethiopia — joined Kenyans in paying their final respects.

In a poignant moment, President Ruto led mourners in singing Odinga’s favourite song, “Jamaican Farewell.”

Odinga’s widow, Ida Odinga, called for peace and reflection. “Raila hated dishonesty,” she said. “He hated greed — the greed that has eaten away at the fabric of our society.”

Former president Uhuru Kenyatta, once Odinga’s fiercest rival and later his political ally, spoke warmly of their long relationship. “We would talk, laugh, and argue — but we never lost respect for each other,” he said.

Bishop David Kodia, who presided over the service, described Odinga as “a man who never used political power or money to intimidate people.”

A Final Journey Home

Before the funeral, Odinga’s body lay in state at Parliament, where MPs and dignitaries paid their respects. On Saturday, it was flown to Kisumu, his lakeside stronghold, and then taken to Bondo, Siaya County — his birthplace — where he will be buried at his family home. True to his wishes, Odinga asked to be buried within 72 hours of his death.

The End of an Era

Odinga was more than a politician; he was an institution. As the founding leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), he ran for president five times — and lost each contest, often amid controversy. Yet his relentless campaigns for democracy, constitutional reform, and national dialogue shaped Kenya’s political identity.

Analysts now warn that his absence leaves a dangerous vacuum. “ODM without Raila will find it difficult to remain coherent,” said one Nairobi-based analyst. “He was not just a leader — he was the glue.”

His death also marks the close of one of Africa’s longest political rivalries — between the Odinga and Kenyatta dynasties, stretching back to the independence era of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Jomo Kenyatta.

The Uncertain Road Ahead

For President Ruto, Odinga’s passing is both a relief and a risk. He has lost his loudest critic — but also a figure who, through sheer credibility, kept opposition anger from boiling over.

Observers caution that without Odinga’s unifying influence, the opposition could become fragmented — and perhaps more radical. The country’s restless Gen Z activists, who recently led anti-tax protests, may not heed the same calls for patience that Odinga once offered.

A Legacy That Endures

He lost the presidency five times but won something larger — a moral authority few leaders ever achieve. Odinga’s courage, his defiance, and his insistence that Kenya belonged to all its citizens changed the course of its democracy.

As the sun sets over Nairobi, green branches flutter from balconies and car windows — a quiet, living salute to the man millions called Baba.

Raila Odinga is gone. But his struggle, his ideas, and his name will remain etched in Kenya’s story — a reminder that democracy is not a moment, but a lifelong fight.

Antananarivo, Madagascar — Colonel Michael Randrianirina has taken office as Madagascar’s new president, following the Gen Z-led uprising that precipitated a military takeover in the country. The young generation’s protests, fuelled by frustration over poor public services, led to cabinet resignations and ultimately reshaped the political landscape.

The unrest began in late September 2025, primarily in the capital, Antananarivo, but quickly spread to other major cities.

Recurrent electricity outages and water-supply disruptions exposed longstanding infrastructure failures and deepened public dissatisfaction, particularly among the youth, who make up the majority of Madagascar’s population under 25.

Dubbed Gen Z Madagascar, the movement is largely composed of students, recent graduates, and young professionals. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram played a central role in organizing protests, sharing updates, and amplifying demands for accountability. Protesters also adopted cultural symbols such as the One Piece pirate skull-and-crossbones, signalling solidarity and defiance.

Despite government bans, large-scale demonstrations kicked off on September 25, 2025, leading to clashes with security forces. The UN estimates around 22 people were killed during the protests. Mounting pressure prompted the government to dissolve the cabinet under Prime Minister Christian Ntsay, but demonstrators escalated their demands, calling for President Andry Rajoelina to resign.

The turning point came when the elite military unit CAPSAT defected and sided with the protesters, enabling the coup in October 2025. With Randrianirina now sworn in, the nation enters a period of uncertain transition, with Gen Z activists closely monitoring whether the military takeover will result in substantive reforms or simply a change in leadership.

While the immediate crisis has subsided, protesters continue to demand reliable utilities, transparent governance, and protection of human rights. Amnesty International has called for investigations into the use of deadly force and the repeal of laws that criminalize protest.

Madagascar’s Gen Z has demonstrated that youth activism, digital mobilization, and coordinated civil action can reshape political realities—even in the face of entrenched power. The key question now is whether this momentum will lead to lasting change.