The National Assembly adjourned its Wednesday morning sitting following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, who had just attended an event at State House in Nairobi, however, did not give a reason for adjourning the sitting but told MPs they would be informed during the afternoon sitting.

“I have just come from an event where eight bills from this House have been ascended. It is the highest number ever ascended together, which is very good,” he said.

“I will invoke my authority under Standing Order Number One directly as follows. The sitting of the House this morning is adjourned. We will have a meeting at 2.30 this afternoon where the speaker will give you some important communication. For now, the House stands adjourned and we all be upstanding.”

Raila died on October 15, 2025, at the age of 80 after suffering a heart attack in India

Raila was one of Kenya's most influential political figures and has been a central player in the country's political landscape for over four decades.

Known for his fiery rhetoric, unwavering opposition stance, and a career marked by both triumphs and controversies, Raila’s name is almost synonymous with Kenya’s struggle for democratic reform.

Despite never ascending to the presidency, Raila’s impact on Kenya’s democratic evolution is indelible.

He has championed constitutional reforms, multiparty democracy, and social justice, often at great personal cost. He remains a towering figure in African politics and continues to command significant influence, both within Kenya and beyond.

Raila has also taken on a more continental role, including being nominated as the African Union’s High Representative for Infrastructure Development, a position that underscores his continued relevance in regional and global affairs.

He was a founding member of the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD) and later the National Development Party (NDP), before merging with the ruling party, KANU, in 2001—only to part ways again soon after.

Read Also: ODM Leader Raila Odinga Dies Aged 80

In 2005, following the defeat of a government-backed constitutional referendum, Raila led the formation of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which became a major opposition force.

Since then, he has run for the presidency five times — in 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022.

In the 2022 presidential elections, Raila made his fifth bid backed by retired president Uhuru Kenyatta. He narrowly lost to William Ruto, Kenya’s current president, a result he challenged in court but was upheld by the Supreme Court. 

Born on January 7, 1945, in Maseno, Kisumu County, Raila is the son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first Vice President and a key figure in the country’s independence movement.