Raila Odinga: Career Politician Who Mastered the Art of the Handshake

Few names in Kenya’s political history command as much attention, admiration, and debate as Rt. Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga. For over four decades, Raila has been at the center of Kenya’s democratic journey — a man whose career has been defined by resilience, reform, and reconciliation.

Born in 1945 to Kenya’s first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Raila inherited a political legacy steeped in the struggle for justice and equality. But it was his own endurance through arrests, detentions, and political betrayals that carved his place as Kenya’s most influential opposition figure — and one of Africa’s most remarkable democrats.

The Road to 2007: Reform and Resistance

Raila’s early political years were spent in the trenches of reform. After years of detainment for his role in the 1982 attempted coup and activism for multi-party democracy, he became a key player in the 1990s push that led to the return of plural politics.

By 2007, Raila was no longer just an opposition leader — he was a national force. Leading the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), he challenged President Mwai Kibaki in an election that remains one of Kenya’s most contentious. When post-election violence erupted, leaving over 1,000 dead and hundreds of thousands displaced, Raila once again placed country above self.

In February 2008, he entered into a power-sharing deal with Kibaki, brokered by the late Kofi Annan. It was the first of Raila’s many handshakes — an act of political maturity that calmed a bleeding nation and birthed Kenya’s first coalition government, where Raila served as Prime Minister.

2013: The Digital Defeat and a Bitter Transition

After the 2010 Constitution ushered in a new political order, Raila sought the presidency again in 2013. His main rival was Uhuru Kenyatta, then facing charges at the International Criminal Court. The election was close, but Uhuru emerged victorious.

Raila contested the results in the Supreme Court — a landmark move that underscored his belief in constitutionalism over chaos. Though the petition was dismissed, the process strengthened Kenya’s democratic institutions and set a precedent for legal redress in election disputes.

2017: The People’s President and the Historic Handshake

The 2017 election marked another turning point. Raila once more faced Uhuru Kenyatta under the NASA coalition. When the Supreme Court nullified the presidential election — a first in Africa — it was hailed as a triumph of democracy.

However, after boycotting the repeat election and declaring himself the People’s President in January 2018, the country teetered on the edge of division. Then came the unexpected — the Handshake of March 9, 2018.

That simple yet symbolic gesture between Raila and Uhuru redefined Kenya’s politics. It brought calm to the streets, thawed political tensions, and gave rise to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) — a reform agenda aimed at healing Kenya’s historical wounds.

While BBI faced legal setbacks, the handshake itself demonstrated Raila’s unmatched ability to prioritize national stability over personal ambition.

2022 and Beyond: The Handshake Legacy Lives On

In 2022, Raila entered the presidential race once more, this time with President Uhuru’s support under the Azimio la Umoja coalition. Though he lost narrowly to Dr. William Ruto, Raila accepted the outcome with characteristic restraint — calling for peace and dialogue over protest.

Even in opposition, his influence remains formidable. His recent engagements with President Ruto’s administration have sparked discussions of yet another “handshake moment” — proof that, for Raila, politics has always been about the pursuit of consensus, not conflict.

The Statesman’s Legacy

From the turbulent days of one-party rule to the democratic maturity of the modern era, Raila Odinga’s career stands as a testament to endurance, reform, and reconciliation.

His handshakes — with Kibaki in 2008, with Uhuru in 2018, and his ongoing overtures toward dialogue with Ruto — tell the story of a man who understands that nations are not built through division, but through the courage to unite.

Love him or oppose him, Raila Amollo Odinga remains an indelible figure in Kenya’s political narrative — the man who turned rivalry into reconciliation, and defeat into dialogue.

A true career politician, yes — but also a career patriot.

John

The author is an experienced radio journalist and media manager.