As tributes continue to pour in for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, economic and political analysts have described him as a statesman whose influence extended beyond Africa.
At a fireside discussion hosted under the theme “Indo-Kenya Economic Imperatives,” analysts, including Ken Gichinga, Dismas Mokua, George Waithaka, and Dennis Okari, reflected on Raila’s role in deepening bilateral relations between Nairobi and New Delhi.
The forum, organized by Mentoria Economics Ltd, featured panelists who painted a picture of a leader who, through diplomacy and conviction, helped bridge two democracies bound by shared values and economic potential.
“India’s influence on the global stage is unmistakable,” said Mokua, a political risk analyst.
“Raila understood the soft power India wields in technology, medicine, and democratic governance. He was one of the few African leaders who truly appreciated its people-first policy mindset.”
Raila’s Decision to Seek Medical Care in India
Gichinga, an economist, noted that while China often dominates headlines for its investments in Africa, India’s quieter contributions have been equally transformative.
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“China lends loudly,” he said, “but India builds quietly, from health to education to trade. Raila saw that early and encouraged Kenya to learn from it.”
Raila’s decision to seek medical care in India before his passing, analysts said, was symbolic of his long-standing confidence in the country’s healthcare system, including traditional Ayurvedic medicine.
“India has done a great deal and keeps doing more without shouting from the rooftops,” said Waithaka. “Its hospitals, technology, and pharmaceutical industries serve the world.”
India, now the world’s fourth-largest economy by nominal GDP at about $4.19 trillion, has in recent years overtaken Japan and is on track to become the third-largest by 2030.
India – Kenya Relations
On his part, dennis Okari, offering a personal perspective, contrasted India’s consumer-friendly systems with Kenya’s higher costs.
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“When I landed in India, I bought a SIM card for about fifty shillings that came with 15GB of data refreshed weekly at no extra cost,” he said. “That level of competition and efficiency is something Kenya can learn from.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also paid tribute to Raila, calling him “a towering statesman and a cherished friend of India.”
Modi said Raila’s admiration for Indian culture and medicine reflected his belief in mutual growth between democracies of the Global South.
The fireside discussion also explored India’s contributions to Kenya’s infrastructure, healthcare, and education sectors, and the opportunities for stronger partnerships in technology and governance.
Analysts concluded that Raila’s political legacy should also be viewed through this economic and diplomatic lens, one that emphasized shared prosperity and people-driven policy.
“Raila understood that Kenya’s future lies in collaboration, not isolation,” Gichinga said. “In celebrating his life, we must also celebrate the bridges he built including the one linking Kenya to India.”
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