Raila Amollo Odinga (born 1945) is a Kenyan Member of Parliament, and was, until November 23, 2005 a Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of Roads, Public Works and Housing. He is the son of the first Vice President of Kenya Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. His brother, Oburu Odinga, is also currently an MP. Image File history File links Raila2. ... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Vice-President of Kenya is the second-highest executive official in the Kenyan government]]. List of Vice-Presidents of Kenya Jaramogi Oginga Odinga (1963-May 1966) Joseph Zuzarte Murumbi (May 1966-1967) Daniel arap Moi (1967-22 August 1978) Mwai Kibaki (14 October 1978-1988) Josephat Njuguna Karanja (1988... Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga (c. ... Oburu Odinga is a Kenyan MP. Oburu is from well known Odinga political family, his brother Raila Odinga is favorite presidential candidate and his late father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was determined politician. ...

Raila is commonly known by his first name due to coincidence: he was MP at the same time with his father between 1992 and 1997, and is currently in the House with Oburu. Raila was a presidential contender in the 1997 elections, coming third after President Daniel Arap Moi of KANU and Mwai Kibaki then of the Democratic Party. He is currently campaigning to run for president in the December 2007 elections on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), after Kalonzo Musyoka through a lawyer Maanzo declared that the Orange Democratic Party of Kenya (ODM-K) is theirs. Mwai Kibaki (born November 15, 1931) is the President of Kenya. ... The Democratic Party is a conservative political party in Kenya. ... ODM-Kenya is a political party in Kenya that was formed as a result of the 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum, in which a Yes vote was represented by the banana and a No vote was the orange. ... Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka (born December 24, 1953 in Tseikuru, Mwingi District) and is a Kenyan politician and was the foreign minister of Kenya from 1993 until 1998 and from 2003 until June 30, 2004, when he was replaced in a cabinet reshuffle. ...

On 1st September 2007, Raila Odinga was elected as the presidential candidate for ODM.

Early life

Raila Odinga, of the Luo ethnic community, was born in Maseno, Kisumu District, Nyanza Province on 7 January 1945. He received a scholarship that in 1965 sent him to the Technical University (Otto Von Guericke), Magdeburg in what was then known as East Germany. In 1970, he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. The Lwo (also Lwoo or Luo) are a family of linguistically-related ethnic groups (tribes) which live in an area that stretches from the south of Sudan, through Northern Uganda and Eastern Congo (DRC), into Western Kenya, and ending in the upper tip of Tanzania. ... Maseno is a town in Kisumu District of Nyanza Province, Kenya. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The capital of Kenyas Nyanza Province, on Lake Victoria, is Kisumu (click to enlarge map) Nyanza Province of Kenya, on Lake Victoria, is one of Kenyas seven administrative provinces outside Nairobi; it is in the southwest corner of Kenya. ... is the 7th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... Otto von Guericke Otto von Guericke (originally spelled Gericke) [] (November 20, 1602 – May 11, 1686 (Julian calendar); November 30, 1602 – May 21, 1686 (Gregorian calendar)) was a German scientist, inventor, and politician. ... This article is about the German city. ... This article is about the state which existed from 1949 to 1990. ... Mechanical Engineering is an engineering discipline that involves the application of principles of physics for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. ...

On returning to Kenya, he worked as a lecturer at the University of Nairobi. He eventually left the university to join parliament. In 1975, he was appointed Deputy Director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards, a post he held until his 1982 detention. This page is a candidate for speedy deletion, because: no content If you disagree with its speedy deletion, please explain why on its talk page or at Wikipedia:Speedy deletions. ... The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) was established by an Act of Parliament, The Standard Act, and chapter 496 of the Laws of Kenya. ...

Detention

Raila was placed under house arrest for seven months after being suspected of collaborating with the plotters of a failed coup attempt against President Daniel Arap Moi in 1982. Raila was charged with treason and was detained without trial for six years. ^[1] The 1982 Kenyan coup was a failed attempt to overthrow President Daniel arap Mois government. ... Daniel Toroitich arap Moi (born September 2, 1924) was the President of Kenya from 1978 until 2002. ...

A biography released in July 2006 suggested that Raila was more involved in the coup than previously thought. After its publication, some MPs called for Raila to be arrested and charged, ^[2] but the statute of limitations had already passed and, since the information was contained in a biography, Raila could not be said to have openly confessed his involvement. ^[3]

Released on February 6 1988, he was arrested again in September, 1988 for his involvement with the Kenya Revolutionary Movement (KRM), ^[4] an underground organization pressing for multi-party democracy in Kenya, which was then a one-party state.

Raila was released on June 12 1989, only to be incarcerated again on July 5 1990, together with Kenneth Matiba, and former Nairobi Mayor Charles Rubia. ^[5] Raila was released on June 21 1991, and in October, he fled the country to Norway alleging government attempts to assassinate him. ^[6] Kenneth Matiba fought for Democracy in Kenya. ... Charles Rubia was the first African Nairobi mayor. ...

Multi-Party Politics

At the time of Raila's departure for Norway, the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD), a movement formed to agitate for the return of multi-party democracy to Kenya, was newly formed. In February 1992, Raila returned to join FORD, then led by his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. He was elected Vice Chairman of the General Purposes Committee of the party. In the months running up to the 1992 General Elections, FORD split into Ford Kenya, led by Raila's father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and FORD-Asili led by Kenneth Matiba. Raila became Ford-Kenya's Deputy Director of Elections. Raila won the Langata Constituency parliamentary seat, previously held by Philip Leakey of KANU ^[7]. Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Asili Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya Categories: | ... Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga (c. ... Ford-Kenya (Forum for the Restoration of Democracy Kenya) is a Kenyan political party currently part of the ruling NARC coalition in Kenya. ... Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga (c. ... The Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Asili is a political party in Kenya. ... Kenneth Matiba fought for Democracy in Kenya. ... Langata Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. ... Philip Leakey (born June 21, 1949) is a former member of the Kenyan Parliament. ...

When Jaramogi Oginga Odinga died in January 1994, and Michael Wamalwa Kijana succeeded him as FORD-Kenya chairman, Raila challenged him for the party leadership. He lost, and left FORD-Kenya to join the National Development Party (NDP). In the 1997 General Elections, Raila finished third after President Moi, the incumbent, and Democratic Party candidate Kibaki. He retained his position as the Langata MP ^[7]. Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga (c. ... Michael Wamalwa Kijana Michael Wamalwa Kijana (25 November, 1944-23 August, 2003) was a Kenyan politician and, at the time of his death, Kenyas Vice-President. ... The National Development Party (Parti Pembanguan) is a political party in Brunei. ... Mwai Kibaki (born November 15, 1931) is the President of Kenya. ...

After the elections, Raila supported the Moi government, and led a merger between his party, NDP, and Moi's KANU party. He served in Moi's Cabinet as Energy Minister during Moi's final term. Moi, MOI, or other variations, can refer to: Look up moi in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... There are three meanings for Kanu: KANU - the Kenya African National Union Kanu, Nwankwo - Nigerian footballer KANU FM 91. ...

In the subsequent KANU elections held later that year, he was elected the party's secretary general. Since Moi, the president and KANU party chairman, was constitutionally barred from running for a third-term, Raila was thought to be maneuvering for the KANU presidential ticket. In 2002, however, Moi passed over Raila and openly supported Uhuru Kenyatta – a son of Kenya's first president Jomo Kenyatta. Moi publicly asked Raila and others to support Uhuru as well ^[8]. Moi, MOI, or other variations, can refer to: Look up moi in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Moi, MOI, or other variations, can refer to: Look up moi in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta (born October 26, 1961) is the leader of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), the former ruling party of Kenya. ... Jomo Kenyatta (October 20, 1889 – August 22, 1978) served as the first Prime Minister (1963–1964) and President (1964–1978) of Kenya. ... Moi, MOI, or other variations, can refer to: Look up moi in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Raila and other KANU members, including Kalonzo Musyoka, George Saitoti and Joseph Kamotho, opposed this step and formed the Rainbow Movement to protest Moi's decision. The Rainbow Movement went on to join the little known Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which later teamed up with the National Alliance Party of Kenya (NAK), a coalition of several other parties, to form the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC). Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka (born December 24, 1953 in Tseikuru, Mwingi District) and is a Kenyan politician and was the foreign minister of Kenya from 1993 until 1998 and from 2003 until June 30, 2004, when he was replaced in a cabinet reshuffle. ... George Saitoti (1945-) is a mathematician, politician, and former Vice President of Kenya. ... The Liberal Democratic Party is a liberal political party in Kenya. ... The National Alliance Party of Kenya (NAK) is a political party in Kenya. ... Politics of Kenya Categories: Politics stubs | Kenyan political parties ... NARC, narc or nark may refer to: Narcotic, an addictive drug derived from opium NARC, a song on Interpols album Antics Narc, an Orc-like character in the parody Bored of the Rings Narc (film), a 2002 film about dirty cops involved in policing the drug trade Narc (Narcotics...

LDP signed a memorandum of understanding with NAK, which provided for a prime ministerial position for the LDP, as well as a 50-50 split of cabinet seats between the LDP and the NAK after the elections.

Dissent from within

President Kibaki did not appoint Raila Odinga Prime Minister on assuming office as agreed in the memorandum of understanding (Kenya's current constitution does not recognize a Prime minister); neither did he give LDP half the cabinet positions. He instead sought to shore up support for his NAK faction by appointing MPs from the opposition parties (KANU and FORD people) to the cabinet ^[9].

The perceived betrayal led to an open rebellion and a split within the cabinet, which culminated in disagreements over a proposed new constitution for the country. The government-backed constitutional committee submitted a draft constitution that was perceived to consolidate powers of the presidency and weaken regional governments as had been provided for under an earlier draft before the 2002 Elections. Raila opposed this, and when the document was put to a referendum on November 21, 2005, the government lost by a 57% to 43% margin. Following this, President Kibaki sacked the entire cabinet on November 23, 2005. When it was formed two weeks later, Raila and the entire LDP group were left out. The 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum occured on 21 November 2005. ... is the 325th day of the year (326th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

This led to the formation of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) - an Orange was the symbol for the "no" vote in the constitutional referendum.

In January 2006, Raila Odinga was reported to have told police that he believed his life was in danger, having received assassination threats ^[10].

On 6 May 2007 at the Uhuru Park - Nairobi he launched his Presidential Campaign; the election is scheduled for December. is the 126th day of the year (127th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

On July 12, he alleged that the government was withholding identity cards from voters in places supportive of the opposition and that the intended creation of 30 new constituencies is a means by which the government seeks to ensure victory in the parliamentary election.^[11] is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

In August 2007, the Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya split in two, with Odinga becoming head of the Orange Democratic Movement while the other faction, the ODM-K, is headed by Kalonzo Musyoka.^[12] On September 1, 2007, the ODM elected Odinga as its presidential candidate in a National Delegates Conference held at the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi. Odinga received 2,656 votes; the only other candidates receiving significant numbers of votes were Musalia Mudavadi with 391 and William Ruto with 368. Earlier, Najib Balala had withdrawn his candidature and endorsed Raila. ^[13] The defeated candidates expressed their support for Odinga afterward, and Mudavadi was named as his running mate.^[14] Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka (born December 24, 1953 in Tseikuru, Mwingi District) and is a Kenyan politician and was the foreign minister of Kenya from 1993 until 1998 and from 2003 until June 30, 2004, when he was replaced in a cabinet reshuffle. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Moi International Sports Centre is a multi-use stadium in Kasarani, outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. ... Musalia Mudavadi is the son of Moses Mudavadi and was the last Vice-President of Kenya under Daniel Arap Mois regime. ... William Ruto is the former minister of home affairs of Kenya. ...

Odinga launched his presidential campaign in Uhuru Park in Nairobi on October 6, 2007.^[15] Recreational park adjacent to the central business district of Nairobi, Kenya. ... is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

Political role

At his website, Raila lists himself as a social democrat, ^[16] thus making distance from his father, who was openly socialist. His party, the LDP, is affiliated to the Liberal International. However, political tendencies are often overshadowed by personal connections and tribalism in current Kenyan politics. Social democracy is a political ideology emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from supporters of Marxism who believed that the transition to a socialist society could be achieved through democratic evolutionary rather than revolutionary means. ... Socialism is a social and economic system (or the political philosophy advocating such a system) in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. ... Liberal International is a political international for international liberal parties. ...

Raila Odinga gets noticeable support from all over the country, especially among third largest ethnic base in Kenya, the Luo. He is seen as an effective mobilizer of grassroots support. The Luo (also spelled Lwo) are a family of linguistically affiliated ethnic groups who live in an area that stretches from the south of Sudan, through Northern Uganda and Eastern Congo (DRC), into Western Kenya, and ending in the upper tip of Tanzania. ...

Further to this, there have been recent calls from the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Martha Karua, for Raila to answer allegations regarding impropriety in the purchase and subsequent sale of land on the Kisumu Molasses Plant. ^[17] Martha Wangari Karua (1957-) is a Kenyan politician, and until now she is Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. ...

Personal life

Raila Odinga is married to Ida Odinga (born Ida Anyango Oyoo). They have four children - two sons and two daughters. His oldest son, Fidel, is named after Fidel Castro ^[18]. Their youngest child, Winnie, is named after Winnie Mandela ^[18]. Raila lives in Nairobi but has a second home in Bondo District. Raila Odinga is an Anglican ^[19] Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born on August 13, 1926) is the current President of Cuba but on indefinite medical hiatus. ... Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (born September 26, 1934 or 1936), born Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela, is the ex-wife of former South African president (May 1994-June 1999) and African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela. ... Bondo District is an administrative district in the Nyanza Province of Kenya. ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ...

References

External links

• Raila Odinga - official website
• Raila Odinga: An Enigma in Kenyan Politics
• Raila Odinga political biography
• Kenya Parliament profile
• An Audience with Raila - (Video - London Sep 7th 2007)