At any stage in our lives, we are taught by our parents, peers or friends never to give up – that life is hard and one needs to develop hard skin in order to navigate the complexities of this world. When we fall, we are supposed to get up and walk again. There are so many examples of those who fought for what they believed in. When it looked as if their fight was fading into the sunset, opportunity knocked at their door. Former President of South Africa (may his soul continue to rest in peace), the iconic Nelson Mandela, served twenty seven (27) years in prison because of his opposition to apartheid. Anything could have happened while in prison, he could have lost his life. But on release, he is appointed as president of South Africa, from 1994 to 1999 which is nothing short of a miracle. But, I am here to talk about another African icon.
An imposing and towering figure from kenya. This man has heavy set voice and a big smile – Raila Amolo Odinga, popularly known as Baba. Born on 07th January 1945, he served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013 and was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Langata Constituency from 1992 to 2013. Since 2013, he currently heads the Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Party.
Odinga has contested for the Kenyan presidency five (05) times, though none of his bids have been successful. In each instance, he has raised allegations of electoral fraud. In 1997, he secured third place as the candidate for the National Development Party (NDP). In 2007, he ran under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) but lost to former President, Mwai Kibaki in a highly disputed election. In 2013, 2017, and 2022, he was the runner-up as the candidate for the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD), the National Super Alliance (NASA), and Azimio la Umoja, respectively.
Following his loss in the 2022 election, Odinga filed a petition at the Supreme Court of Kenya challenging the victory of President-elect William Samoei Ruto. The Court, which is known for being independent, eventually ruled against him and Odinga publicly committed to respecting the decision. In February 2024, Odinga announced his candidacy for the African Union Commission Chairperson but was unsuccessful in securing the position. Many critics have given varying reasons for his failure, with some attributing it to the 2007-2008 Kenya ethnic riots which saw Mwai Kibaki sworn in as President. But, whatever the reason, Odinga has built a following in Kenya, he can influence the course of events in the country. He is not one to ignore on the political scene. The Maasai are famous for being brave warriors and Baba is no different. He is still walking.
