Raila Odinga

Article summary

Raila Amolo Odinga (7 January 1945 – 15 October 2025) was a Kenyan politician who served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Langata Constituency from 1992 to 2013. He was also the leader of Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Party. Odinga ran for President of Kenya five times, with none of his attempts being successful. Each time Odinga alleged electoral fraud. In 1997, Odinga finished third as the candidate of the National Development Party (NDP). In 2007, he ran again for the presidency under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and lost to Mwai Kibaki. In 2013, 2017, and 2022, Odinga was the runner-up as a candidate for the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD), National Super Alliance (NASA), and Azimio la Umoja, respectively. After his loss, Odinga filed for petition against President-elect William Ruto at the Supreme Court of Kenya. The court decided against him, and Odinga pledged to respect its ruling. In February 2024, he announced his candidacy for the African Union Commission Chairperson but was defeated by Mahamoud Ali Youssouf in the February 2025 ballot.

Key claims

1. date of birth: 1945-01-07 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of birth: 1977 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. date of birth: 1979 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
4. date of death: 1984 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
5. date of death: 1994 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
6. release date: 1988 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
7. release date: 2006 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
8. release date: 1988-02-06 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
9. release date: 1989-06-12 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
10. release date: 1991-06-21 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
11. release date: 2012 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of birth is "1945-01-07". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of birth is "1977". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the date of birth is "1979". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. The record states that the date of death is "1984". What evidence would count against this claim?
6. The record states that the date of death is "1994". What evidence would count against this claim?
7. The record states that the release date is "1988". What evidence would count against this claim?
8. The record states that the release date is "2006". What evidence would count against this claim?
9. The record states that the release date is "1988-02-06". What evidence would count against this claim?
10. The record states that the release date is "1989-06-12". What evidence would count against this claim?
11. The record states that the release date is "1991-06-21". What evidence would count against this claim?
12. The record states that the release date is "2012". What evidence would count against this claim?
13. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
14. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1374368524