At 78 years old, Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition, remains one of the most charismatic and influential politicians in the history of Kenya.
The opposition supremo is widely known for his fight for social justice and democratic ideals not just in Africa but all over the world.
Raila's ability to mobilise the masses has further cemented his position as a significant force in Kenya's political arena for decades, earning him both admiration and criticism depending on who you ask.
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In 2023, Raila and his footsoldiers continued to keep President William Ruto's administration in check. Additionally, significant events unfolded in Raila's private life.
We take a look at some of the most memorable moments of the former Prime Minister over the last 12 months.
1. Mass action calls/Street protests
The opposition chief brought the country to a standstill with calls for street demonstrations to protest against the results of last year's presidential election and the high cost of living occasioned by President Ruto's move to increase taxes on basic commodities.
Raila, who finished second in the results announced on August 15, 2022, by Wafula Chebukati, the then chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, alleged electoral fraud in President Ruto's victory.
Despite the Supreme Court upholding Ruto's victory on September 5, 2022, Raila insisted that he was rigged out, further claiming that the Apex court had been compromised.
The Azimio coalition sparked fresh controversy in January 2023 after unleashing new data claiming that Raila won the 2022 presidential poll with 8,170,355(57.53% ) votes ahead of Ruto who purportedly mustered 5,919,973(41.66%) votes.
Raila stated that he was convinced he had defeated Ruto after reviewing documents released by Vanguard Africa, a whistle-blower who claimed to have access to the poll results.
"Those results are not results anyone can doubt. Of every 245 forms he has released, only 45 were brought physically to the Bomas. Those forms have barcodes which if you scan, show location, it shows the day and the time they were transmitted," Raila said at Chungwa House on January 25, 2023, ahead of the opposition rally at Jacaranda Gardens.
"So no one can dispute what is inside there and that's why they are quiet. The results are true, since they were released Chebukati and his people have not spoken."
Vanguard Africa was founded by an American citizen known as Jeffrey Smith.
In his LinkedIn profile, Jeffrey Smith describes his organization as a nonprofit that advocates for free and fair election campaigns and supports pro-democracy leaders across the African continent.
In his address at Jacaranda Gardens on Sunday, January 29, 2023, announced a series of rallies to protest against President Ruto's government.
In the weeks and months that followed, the countrywide rallies escalated into street demonstrations protesting against electoral injustice and the soaring cost of living.
Violent protests were reported in opposition strongholds with police using teargas and live ammunition against demonstrators. Raila also alleged assassination attempts severally after police shot at his car during the protests.
Amnesty International Kenya said in a statement in July that at least 30 people had been killed since the cost-of-living protests kicked off in March.
2. Raila calls for boycott of Safaricom, KCB, Star Newspaper
On March 21, Raila called on his supporters to boycott services by telecommunications giant Safaricom, KCB Bank and Radio Africa Group's Star Newspaper, accusing them of bias.
Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi, Raila claimed that the three brands were facilitators of Ruto's 'brutal' administration.
“We call for the boycott of Safaricom, Kenya Commercial Bank and Radio Africa Media particularly the Star Newspaper who have become the enablers and facilitators of this brutal regime,” Raila said at a press conference in Nairobi.
Raila's remarks attracted criticism from the media fraternity with the Kenya Union of Journalists, Kenya Editors Guild, civil society, and Media Council of Kenya terming Raila's calls as an anti-climax of his historical credits.
The media stakeholders accused Raila of an attack on press freedom, citing fears that the attack could endanger the lives of journalists in the country.
The piling pressure forced Raila to call off the boycott against the paper two days later.
"We have agreed to call off our boycott of The Star newspaper. Instead, we have filed a complaint with the Media Council of Kenya with the paper's biases," Raila stated.
3. Raila teargassed
Azimio supporters' confrontation with anti-riot police in various parts of the country saw Raila's entourage teargassed severally.
On March 20, the police in Nairobi lobbed teargas canisters at Raila motorcade as it left Serena Hotel near the Central Business District.
Raila was flanked by his co-principals Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka and several opposition politicians including former Roots party presidential candidate George Wajackoyah and Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugine Wamalwa.
Again in July, Raila and his supporters were teargassed as they attempted to make their way into Nairobi CBD after a rally at Kamukunji Grounds, where the ODM party leader told the masses to match to Central Park, next to Uhuru Park.
"There are many ways to reach 'Rome', when they block one road, we use another. Today, our 'Rome' is called Central Park, that is where we shall meet after the Kamukunji rally," he said.
However, this didn't happen as the police managed to disperse the crowd.
4. Raila calls off protests
On April 3, the former prime minister called off bi-weekly anti-government protests to allow engagement with the State on the opposition grievances.
The move followed President William Ruto's proposal for consideration of a bi-partisan parliamentary engagement to address the recruitment of new IEBC commissioners, which was one of the issues the opposition had raised with Ruto's administration.
The protests, however, resumed in July after the talks with the Kenya Kwanza administration collapsed with the Raila camp accusing Ruto's side of lack of seriousness.
The July protests birthed the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), whose recommendations have been embraced by both Raila and Ruto, ending the stalemate between the opposition and government.
5. Raila sparks speculations of backing Kalonzo in 2027
Raila sparked succession speculations after heaping praise on Kalonzo at Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga’s birthday celebration in Bondo on October 15.
Raila was addressing Ruto's remarks that he would easily win against Kalonzo in 2027. The opposition leader, however, told Ruto to stop belittling the Wiper party boss.
He claimed that Ruto was attempting to split the Azimio coalition by setting himself up for a political duel with Kalonzo.
Raila said Kalonzo was a trustworthy leader who had rallied behind him for several years and promised to support him.
“He is speaking about Kalonzo Musyoka as if they are equals, he (Kalonzo)is far better than him (Ruto). He wants to divide us with the talk about who will run for the presidency, yet we have not announced anything. We will show him he knows nothing; we will stand with Kalonzo because he is an honest person,” he said.
Following widespread speculations, Raila later denied endorsing Kalonzo for the country's top seat.
In a statement, Raila's spokesperson Dennis Onyango insisted that Raila's praise of the Wiper boss did not amount to an endorsement.
“Mr Odinga, therefore, clarifies that his praise for Mr Musyoka for standing with him in three successive elections, the wiper leader’s strong Christian values and the support he had built across the country was not an endorsement of Mr Musyoka as the Azimio Presidential candidate in 2027,” Onyango said.
6. Raila, Ida mark 50th wedding anniversary
Raila and his wife Ida on August 24 marked their 50th wedding anniversary at a colourful ceremony held at the luxurious Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel in Nairobi.
The event coincided with Ida's 73rd birthday celebration.
Ida was treated to a hammer ride as she celebrated her big day. Accompanying her were her daughter Rosemary, son Raila Odinga Junior, Winnie and their grandchildren.
Raila serenaded the love of his life with a rendition of the timeless melody 'Jamaican Farewell' by Harry Belafonte as guests sang along to celebrate the opposition leader's wife.
The star-studded event was attended by the who's who in both the political and entertainment scenes.
