The Department of History at Durham University, one of the United Kingdom’s leading research institutions, has commissioned a comprehensive study on the life and political legacy of Kenyan opposition leader Raila Amolo Odinga.
The project, announced through the university’s Thought Leadership platform, aims to examine the personal, political, and historical factors that shaped one of Africa’s most influential yet paradoxical political figures.
Professor Justin Willis @durham_history joins fellow researchers in looking at the life of prominent Kenyan politician #RailaOdinga following his death.
— Durham University (@durham_uni) October 22, 2025
👉Find out more: https://t.co/ER36T2yVU3 pic.twitter.com/9A9HzrqX7v
The research is being led by Professor Justin Willis, a historian of modern Africa, together with other scholars including, Professor Gabrielle Lynch of the University of Warwick, Professor Karuti Kanyinga of the University of Nairobi, and Professor Nic Cheeseman of the University of Birmingham.
During University‘s “Thought Leadership” article, titled ‘Raila Odinga: The man who changed Kenya without ever ruling it, describes Raila as a figure whose influence transcends formal power. Despite never ascending to the presidency, his name is synonymous with political resilience, reform, and opposition politics in Kenya.
The article notes;
“Raila Odinga profoundly shaped the country’s politics as much as any president. His absence will generate a political vacuum that other leaders will struggle to fill.”
The Durham research acknowledges Odinga’s unique role in transforming Kenya’s political landscape, that is from championing multi-party democracy in the early 1990s to leading constitutional reforms that culminated in the 2010 Constitution.
Durham University, located in northeast England, is one of the world’s top research universities and the third oldest in England after Oxford and Cambridge. It is part of the prestigious Russell Group of leading UK universities and is known for its excellence in humanities and social sciences.
The university’s Department of History is internationally recognized for its work on decolonisation, African history, and political transitions. Through its Decolonising History initiative, Durham aims to ensure that African voices and narratives are documented and represented accurately in global academic discourse.
Commissioning research into Raila Odinga’s life aligns with this vision, giving historical and scholarly weight to one of East Africa’s most enduring political stories.
