Azimio la Umoja -One Kenya leader Raila Odinga is today, Saturday, January 7, 2023, marking his 78th birthday.
The ODM leader and former Prime Minister was born in 1945 in Maseno, Kisumu County, to prominent figures in Kenya's struggle for independence Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Mary Ajuma Odinga.
Below is a chronology of the enigma's political journey:
1970: Returns to Kenya after studying in communist East Germany
1971: Establishes the Standard Processing Equipment Construction and Erection Limited (later renamed East African Spectre)
1982: Charged with treason and detained for six years
1988: Arrested for involvement in multiparty campaigns
1990: Rearrested after his release on 12 June 1989
1991: Upon his release, he flees to Norway over assassination fears
1992: Back from exile, joins the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD)
-Vies for the first time as MP and wins Langata parliamentary seat
-Quits FORD-K & formed National Democratic Party (NDP)
1997: Runs for president and loses
-Leads merger between NDP and KANU
2001-2002: Serves as Minister for Energy
2002: Forms LDP, teams up with National Alliance Party of Kenya (NAK) to form NARC that defeated Uhuru Kenyatta in the 2002 poll.
2005: Leads the 'Orange' camp in opposing the proposed constitution
2007: Vies for the presidency for the second time under ODM and loses to Mwai Kibaki in Kenya's most contested election. Violence ensues. After protracted talks, forms a Government of national unity with Mwai Kibaki as President
2008: Became Kenya's second Prime Minister in Kenya's history. Jomo Kenyatta was the first one after Kenya is granted independence in 1963.
2013: Contests for the presidency for the third time on a CORD ticket, loses to Uhuru Kenyatta. Petitions the win but the court throws out his case.
2017: Vies for the presidency for the fourth time on a NASA ticket and loses to Uhuru Kenyatta
-Successfully challenges Uhuru's victory in court annuals the election and orders a repeat. Raila boycotts the re-run arguing that IEBC cannot deliver a fair election.
-Swears himself in as the "people's president"
2018: Mends fences with Uhuru in a rapprochement that comes to be known as the handshake.
2022: His BBI initiative is rejected by the courts, vies for the presidency for the fifth time on Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya Alliance ticket
-Challenges President William Ruto's win at the Supreme Court but loses
- Has vowed to run for the presidency, a sixth time, in 2027
