RAILA ODINGA REMEMBERED FOR HIS COURAGEOUS AND UNWAVERING ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP
As Kenyans mourn former Prime Minister the late Raila Odinga, his dedication to environmental governance and climate leadership cannot be forgotten. The former Prime Minister was pronounced dead on Wednesday October 15, 2025, while receiving treatment at Devamatha Hospital, India.
Raila served as the Prime Minister of Kenya between 2008 -2013.
The late former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga with the Indian Prime Minister Nerandra Modi in a file photo.
Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, gives his address during his unveiling as the candidate for the chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), at the Statehouse in Nairobi on August 27, 2024. The launch marked the start of Mr Odinga’s official campaigns ahead of the February 2025 elections to replace outgoing chair Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat. (Photo by SIMON MAINA / AFP) (Photo by SIMON MAINA/AFP via Getty Images)
Raila championed for concerted efforts in tackling climate change. During his tenure, he led a high-level government delegation to the historic 15th Conference of Parties (COP 15) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2009. During the conference attended by then US President Barack Obama and other prominent leaders, the rich nations pledged $100 billion -a-year in financial support to the developing countries. This pledge on climate financing remains largely not fulfilled, as the deadline that had been set then was 2020.
In 2018, Hon. Raila was appointed as a special envoy to the Africa Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD). His role was to help bridge gaps in infrastructure and economic advancement that would aid the African Union (AU) in achieving its 2063 Agenda.
In 2024, Raila presented his bid for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC). During the campaigns, Raila stood for climate governance, reminding the rich nations to fulfil their promise on climate financing to mitigate the effects and enable developing countries to respond to climate change.
While he lost to the current chair and former Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, he continued to press for more efforts towards the global phenomenon.
Locally, Raila was a champion for the devolved system of government, championing for allocation and prudent use of resources to benefit the county government efforts in tackling climate change.
He equally championed for the use of clean forms of energy such as green energy to reduce the effects of climate change.
He championed for Science and Technology, rooting for the use of Artificial Intelligence to address job shortages.
Raila studied at the Technical University of Magdeburg (1965-1970). He earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering in East Germany in 1970 and later returned to Kenya to become a lecturer at the University of Nairobi.
The President of the Republic of Kenya William Ruto announced the death to the world, declaring a seven-day mourning period during which flags will fly at half-mast. Friday October 17 has been declared a public holiday in Kenya, to allow the nation to mourn a statesman and Pan- Africanist.
The late Raila will be accorded a state funeral on Sunday October 19 in his Opoda Farm, Bondo in Siaya County.