Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga stands as one of the most influential figures in Kenya’s political history. Revered as a nationalist, freedom fighter, and reformist, Jaramogi played a pivotal role in Kenya’s struggle for independence and later became a powerful voice for democracy, social justice, and multiparty politics.
His legacy continues to shape Kenyan politics today, not least through the Odinga political lineage.
Early Life and Education
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was born in 1911 in Bondo, Nyanza Province. Raised in a traditional Luo setting, he later embraced formal education, attending Alliance High School and subsequently training as a teacher.
His early exposure to education and community leadership helped shape his political consciousness and commitment to African self-rule.
Entry into Politics and the Independence Struggle
In the 1940s and 1950s, Jaramogi emerged as a prominent nationalist leader advocating for African rights under British colonial rule. He was actively involved in political movements that demanded self-governance and equality for Africans.
1. Kenyatta Follower
Jaramogi Oginga entered politics in 1947, when he became a member of Kenya’s legislative council. He was a supporter of the Kenya African Union, Kenya’s only important African political group. After hearing a speech by the future leader of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta, Odinga became his devoted follower.
In 1953, Kenyatta was jailed by the British, and during Kenyatta’s years in detention, Odinga became one of the most outspoken resistance leaders calling for his release.
In the first African elections for the legislature in 1957, Odinga won the election in his home district of central Nyanza.
A major British effort to control Kenya’s evolution in a peaceful fashion was the Lancaster House Conference of 1960. A unified African delegation attended and accepted the conference’s decisions as a step on the path to independence.
But when the delegates returned to Kenya, rivalries shattered the unity of the African politicians, with Odinga emerging as one of the leaders of the radical group of dissatisfied Africans.
Odinga and other members of the legislative council formed the Kenya African National Union (KANU). The other major African party was the Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU). Odinga’s KANU used its strong showing in the 1961 general elections to help gain Kenyatta’s release.
One of his most defining roles was his campaign for the release of Jomo Kenyatta, who had been detained by the colonial government. Jaramogi famously declared, “No Kenyatta, no independence,” a statement that cemented his status as a fearless freedom fighter and a unifying nationalist voice.
2. Breaking with Leadership
Kenya gained independence in December 1963, and Kenyatta, a member of the Kikuyu, Kenya’s largest ethnic group, became president. Odinga, a leader of the second-largest ethnic group, the Luo, was appointed minister of home affairs in 1963 and, in 1964, became vice-president.
Kenya became a de facto one-party state that year when KADU merged with KANU. Odinga increasingly opposed KANU’s direction after the merger, which, in his opinion, helped turn the government’s policies to the right. He openly challenged the government’s use of private and foreign investment capital and its close ties with the West.
Within KANU, a coalition formed against Odinga. He was left out of decision-making, and in 1966, a KANU reorganization conference abolished his post of party vice-president. In April 1966, Odinga resigned from the government and party to form an opposition group, the Kenya People’s Union (KPU).
The KPU faced government harassment, and some of its leaders were jailed. In October 1969, Odinga was jailed by the government on the charge of organizing a demonstration which turned into a riot. The KPU was banned, and Odinga stayed in prison for 15 months.
3. Tireless Opposition Leader
Odinga remained an opposition leader throughout the 1970s. After Kenyatta died in 1978, the new president, Daniel arap Moi, tried to bring Jaramogi back into KANU.
But when Odinga was reinstated into the party in 1980, he attacked Moi and Kenyatta as corrupt and protested the U.S. military presence in Kenya. In 1982, the party again banished Odinga and amended the constitution to make Kenya officially a one-party state.
Throughout the 1980s, international criticism of KANU’s human rights record grew, and Odinga remained vocal in calling for democracy. In 1991, Odinga founded the National Democratic Party, but the government refused to recognize it and briefly jailed Odinga.
However, international protests were effective, and later that year, Jaramogi Oginga and five other opposition leaders formed the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD), the nucleus of a pro-democracy movement. When other nations cut off aid, KANU was forced to allow opposition activity.
But FORD split in 1992, and a third leader formed another party. The splits allowed Moi to win the presidency in the December 1992 elections with about 35 percent of the vote; Odinga, 81 years old, finished fourth.
In 1993, Odinga’s reputation suffered when he admitted taking a campaign contribution from a bank accused of bribing government officials. In the months before his death in January 1994, Odinga tried to reconcile his branch of FORD with KANU, but without success.
President Moi said at Odinga’s death that “Kenya has lost a great son, a nationalist, and a patriotic citizen.” In truth, it had lost its strongest opposition leader.
Role After Independence
When Kenya gained independence in 1963, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga became the country’s first Vice President under President Jomo Kenyatta. However, ideological differences soon emerged between the two leaders.
Jaramogi advocated for:
- Socialist-oriented economic policies
- Strong ties with Eastern Bloc countries
- Equitable distribution of land and resources
These views clashed with Kenyatta’s capitalist-leaning policies and Western alliances. In 1966, Jaramogi resigned as Vice President, marking one of the earliest and most significant political fallouts in independent Kenya.
Legacy and Influence
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga passed away in 1994, but his impact on Kenya remains profound. He is remembered as:
- A principled nationalist
- A fearless opposition leader
- A pioneer of democratic reforms
His legacy lives on through his family, particularly his son Raila Odinga, who has remained a central figure in Kenyan politics and reform movements.
Conclusion
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s life mirrors Kenya’s political evolution—from colonial resistance to post-independence struggles to the eventual fight for democracy.
Though often sidelined during his lifetime, history recognizes him as a foundational pillar of Kenyan leadership and a symbol of courage, resilience, and principled politics.
Drop Your Comments, What do you think About The Article?