Political Ringside became part of the national conversation as Kenyans tried to understand what Raila Odinga’s death means for the country. His passing on October 15, 2025, has created a moment of deep reflection and uncertainty.
Odinga died in India after suffering a cardiac arrest while receiving treatment for long-term health problems that included diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney disease.
His body was brought back home for a state funeral that unfortunately turned chaotic when a stampede injured more than 160 people and led to two deaths.
He was laid to rest beside his father in Bondo on October 19. His legacy as a defender of democracy is well known. He served as prime minister from 2008 to 2013 and became the face of the opposition for many years.
He ran for president five times, claiming that each loss was the result of an unfair process. His death has left a wide and painful gap in Kenyan politics.
With Odinga gone, the Orange Democratic Movement is now in a difficult position. The party grew under his leadership and became one of the strongest political forces in the country. ODM brought together supporters from western Kenya and many other regions.
Now the party is facing a leadership crisis. There is no clear successor, and internal disagreements are becoming more visible.
Some ODM members have joined the broad based government led by President William Ruto. This move has created mixed reactions among party loyalists. MP Otiende Amollo has been vocal about this issue. He says the benefits promised to ODM in the government deal are not real and that the arrangement lasts only until 2027. He argues that the party must think carefully about what direction it will take once that period ends.
A discussion on Political Ringside helped explain the depth of this crisis. In a recent YouTube interview titled Inside ODM’s Succession Crisis After Raila, Davis Bin Oluoch talked with host Vivian Kabiru about the challenges ahead. Oluoch said that the party is struggling to find its footing.
He noted that ODM won a few by-elections but only narrowly. Those victories kept the party alive.
At the same time, some losses have been ignored in public conversations, yet they reveal serious weakness. Oluoch said power inside ODM is now shifting.
Odinga had been the person who held everything together. Without him, different groups are fighting quietly for influence. Some leaders close to him or those with strong regional backing might rise, but nothing is certain.
Odinga’s death has raised new questions about stability and the direction of the opposition. ODM has not shown signs of breaking apart, but the party must adapt to survive.
Many analysts believe that younger leaders will need to step up and that grassroots issues will become more important. The next few months will show whether ODM can rebuild and find a new voice.
Conversations like those on Political Ringside offer a window into the difficult decisions ahead as the party navigates life without its longest serving leader.
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