Dar es Salaam – The sudden death of Kenya’s veteran opposition leader, Raila Amolo Odinga, at the age of 80 has been met with profound sorrow in Tanzania, where leaders from both the ruling party and the opposition have united in mourning a figure they describe as a “towering Pan-African statesman” and a “steadfast voice for progress.”
Odinga passed away on October 15, 2025, after suffering a cardiac arrest in Kochi, India, where he was receiving medical treatment.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan led the nation in expressing grief, posting a heartfelt message on the social media platform X. She described Odinga as a “skilled leader, a Pan-Africanist, a peace lover, and a solution seeker,” whose influence extended far beyond Kenya’s borders.
“This loss is not Kenya’s alone, but all of ours,” President Samia wrote, extending her condolences to Odinga’s family and the Kenyan people. “We have lost a brilliant leader, a true Pan-Africanist, a peace lover, and a seeker of solutions whose influence and compassion extended beyond Kenya to the entire East African region and the African continent as a whole.”
The sentiment was echoed by the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, based in Arusha, Tanzania. In a statement, EAC Secretary General Veronica M. Nduva called Odinga a “towering Pan-African statesman” who “championed the cause of integration, infrastructure and collective development.”
The statement highlighted his conviction that “Africa’s strength lies in its unity,” a belief that resonated deeply with the EAC’s vision.
Friendship and political kinship
Odinga’s connections to Tanzania were not merely political but deeply personal and historical. For many Tanzanians, he was more than just a neighbouring politician; he was a symbol of resilience and a friend who shared their nation’s values.
He held a profound admiration for Tanzania’s founding father, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, whose principles of equality and Pan-African unity he emulated. In a poignant historical anecdote, it was revealed that the first travel document Odinga ever owned was issued in Dar es Salaam in 1962, two years before the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
After being denied a passport by the British colonial government in Kenya, a 17-year-old Odinga was granted temporary Tanganyikan citizenship and a passport by Nyerere, a friend of his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. This act of solidarity enabled him to travel to East Germany for his education. During that visit, he was even chauffeured in Nyerere’s car and had lunch at the Prime Minister’s residence.
This bond extended through generations of Tanzanian leadership. Odinga enjoyed a particularly close friendship with the late President John Pombe Magufuli. Their camaraderie began when both served as ministers of works for their respective countries, a period during which they “exchanged experiences frequently and cooperated in joint construction projects.”
Their friendship was so strong that in 2016, Odinga and his family were the first official visitors to President Magufuli’s home village in Chato after he assumed office. In 2021, following the deaths of both former President Benjamin Mkapa and President Magufuli, Odinga made a personal trip to Dar es Salaam to visit their widows, Mama Anna Mkapa and Mama Janeth Magufuli, to offer his condolences.
A mentor to the opposition
Odinga’s influence in Tanzania extended beyond the ruling party. He was a respected figure among opposition leaders, who often sought his counsel. Just months before his death, in March 2025, Odinga hosted a delegation of Tanzanian opposition leaders in Nairobi, led by CHADEMA chairman Tundu Lissu.
During the meeting, he encouraged them to “prioritise dialogue and constructive engagement with their government in the interest of the nation.”
Prominent opposition figure Zitto Kabwe, former leader of the ACT Wazalendo party, shared a deeply personal tribute, calling Odinga a “mentor whose endurance and conviction were unparalleled.”
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“On a personal note, I was deeply privileged to meet him on numerous occasions, seeking his profound wisdom and guidance on matters of governance, leadership, and Pan-African unity,” Mr Kabwe said in a statement. “Each interaction revealed a mentor whose endurance and conviction were unparalleled, profoundly shaping my own political journey and inspiring countless others across Africa.”
Statements from other opposition parties, including ACT Wazalendo and CHADEMA, mourned the loss of a “steadfast voice for progress and democracy” and a “hero of democracy” whose contributions left an “indelible mark” on the continent.
A bridge for East Africa
Throughout his career, Odinga remained a fervent champion of regional integration. His support for the East African Community was unwavering, viewing it not just as an economic bloc but as a vehicle for shared prosperity and political stability.
His recent, though unsuccessful, bid for the African Union Commission Chairmanship was backed by several regional governments, including Tanzania, a testament to the respect he commanded across East Africa.
As Tanzania’s Foreign Minister, January Makamba, recalled in a personal reflection, Odinga’s humanity and genuine interest in people were his defining traits. He recounted a Christmas Day breakfast with Odinga in 2007, where, despite the intensity of an impending election, Odinga’s focus was on his guest and their shared dream of a united East Africa. “He loved Kenya. He loved Tanzania. He loved Africa,” Makamba wrote.
As Kenya prepares to bid farewell to one of its most iconic political figures, the outpouring of grief from its southern neighbour serves as a powerful reminder of the deep, personal, and political ties that bind the two nations.
For Tanzania, the passing of Raila Odinga is not just the loss of a neighbouring leader but the loss of a brother, a mentor, and a true friend of the nation.