How Raila inherited ex-minister Karisa Maitha political base

President William Ruto during the burial of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Bondo, on October 19, 2025. [PCS]

Raila Odinga mentored top leaders from the Coast while building his party after taking over the support base of late Cabinet Minister Karisa Maitha, observers have said.

Raila started building the Coast political base in the early 1990s, but his stature grew when he inherited Maitha's political base after his death in 2004.

His influence further grew in the 2005 referendum on a proposed constitution when the Orange side got overwhelming support from the Coast region.

Analysts said Raila used Ford-Kenya's original support base in Coast and the most local pressing issues around land and marginalisation to build ODM and mentor local leaders.

He initially worked with Ford-Kenya leaders Prof Rashid Mzee of Kisauni and Khalif Mwavumo of Likoni.

Pwani University lecturer Hassan Mwakimako noted that Raila mentored Cabinet Secretaries Hassan Joho and Salim Mvurya, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro and former CS Aisha Jumwa.

"Raila took over leadership of Coast after the death of Karisa Maitha and championed issues of squatters, unemployment and poor infrastructure and became popular in the region," said Prof Mwakimako.

He said before devolution, the Coast region, like many other areas, felt marginalised on land issues, employment and infrastructure development.

Former Cabinet Ministers Najib Balala, Suleiman Shakombo and Chirau Ali Mwakwere also worked with Raila.

Mwakimako noted that the survival of ODM in Coast will depend on how it is run during and after the transition.

Maimuna Mwidau noted that Raila was seen as a liberator for his consistent campaign for resettlement of squatters.

"Raila filled the leadership gap that Maitha had left and teamed up with local leaders to grow ODM," she said.

But she faulted the hurried replacing of Raila with his brother Oburu Odinga in an acting capacity, saying it should have been done by delegates.

Mombasa lawyer Aboubakar Yusuf argued that Raila used the marginalisation and land issues to win over Coast.

"Raila also respected prominent Coast leaders like Shariff Nassir. He even mentored Nassir's son Abdulswamad, who is today the Mombasa governor," he said.