This report marks the first edition of Rooted Social’s Pulsar Insights series, a data-led exploration of the conversations shaping public life across Africa. Using advanced audience intelligence tools, we analyse how societies express, debate and reinterpret ideas in real time.

Between 7 and 22 October 2025, Kenya’s digital conversation changed dramatically. Using Pulsar, Rooted Social analysed every publicly available post on X (Twitter) mentioning Raila Odinga, tracing how national sentiment evolved in the days following his passing.

Odinga was one of Kenya’s most influential political figures, a constant presence in public life for more than four decades. Known for his role in shaping multi-party democracy and leading the opposition, he remained a polarising figure who inspired loyalty and provoked debate in equal measure.

To understand how the public conversation developed, Rooted Social ran two separate analyses. The first captured three months of discourse leading up to his death, while the second focused on the week that followed. Together, these datasets provide a unique picture of how a nation’s tone can shift in real time, from fatigue and frustration to reflection and re-evaluation.

Figure 1: Public Interest Over Time (16 July – 16 October 2025)

Public interest in Raila Odinga fluctuated over the three months leading up to October, rising and falling with the rhythm of political events. Engagement was driven by protest movements, economic debate and governance criticism, followed by sharp declines reflecting growing fatigue and disillusionment.

This pattern of volatility reflected a fragmented conversation, shaped by cycles of outrage and disengagement. But that dynamic changed entirely after Odinga’s passing.

Figure 2: Public Interest Over Time (7 – 22 October 2025)

In the week following his death, online discussion surged steadily, marking one of the strongest and most sustained increases in political engagement seen this year. The data reveals how a period of national mourning also became a moment of collective reflection on leadership and legacy.

Together, these graphs illustrate how public attention moved from sporadic debate to sustained engagement, as Kenyans re-evaluated Odinga’s role in shaping the nation’s political story.

The Data Behind the Conversation

The Public Interest Over Time graphs show this transformation clearly.

In the months before his death, online discussion rose and fell sharply, mirroring the volatility of Kenya’s political climate. There were bursts of engagement tied to protests and policy debates, followed by steep declines in activity. Public attention during this period was inconsistent and often shaped by political tension, criticism and fatigue.

After Odinga’s passing, that pattern changed completely. The second graph shows a steady and sustained rise in public engagement throughout the week that followed, representing one of the most significant and prolonged increases in online political discussion seen in Kenya this year.

This surge was not just immediate but enduring. Kenyans, both at home and across the diaspora, turned online to discuss Odinga’s legacy, his leadership and the future of the country’s politics.

A Shift in Tone and Focus

The change in tone across the two searches is striking.

In the earlier dataset, which covered July to mid-October, nine distinct narratives emerged. The largest was “A Legacy of Leadership and Governance”, accounting for 44 per cent of the total conversation. The rest were smaller and more fragmented, spanning topics such as leadership crises, corruption, divisive politics and Africa’s development.

The conversation at that time was marked by fatigue. Many Kenyans expressed frustration with governance, a sense of political stagnation and scepticism towards leadership. The vocabulary of the period was dominated by words such as corruption, tribalism and failure.

In contrast, the week following Odinga’s death saw a consolidation of discussion into just four primary themes. The dominant narrative, “Kenyans Divided Over Raila Odinga’s Leadership and Legacy,” made up over 75 per cent of all posts.

This shift represents more than an increase in attention. It reflects a collective reframing of how Odinga is perceived, no longer solely as a political actor but as a national figure whose life and influence demand reconsideration.

The Narrative Distribution visual shows this clearly. The large blue cluster, representing division and debate over Odinga’s leadership, dominates the online space, surrounded by smaller conversations exploring politics and corruption, his legacy of respect and controversy, and his record on leadership and nation-building.

Figure 3: Narrative Distribution (Oct 7th-22nd 2025)

After Raila Odinga’s passing, online discussion consolidated around four key themes, dominated by debate over his leadership and legacy.

A Nation in Reflection

While division remains part of the story, the tone of conversation has softened. The language of anger has given way to reflection, and the focus has shifted from confrontation to consideration.

Kenyans are now discussing Odinga as a figure of both reform and controversy. For some, he is remembered as a champion of democracy who stood for accountability and justice. For others, he represents a generation of leadership defined by ambition and unfinished change.

What unites these views is an underlying recognition of his central role in shaping Kenya’s political identity. In life, he was often a point of contention; in death, he has become a mirror through which the nation reflects on its own evolution.

Regional and Continental Resonance

Beyond Kenya, Odinga’s passing has reignited discussion of his influence across Africa. Mentions linked to AFREEI and GPLC Africa 2024 place him within a broader continental narrative about reform, unity and sustainable development.

Across East Africa and beyond, Odinga is being discussed not only as a national leader but as part of a wider story about political legacy, regional cooperation and generational change.

The Next Chapter

In the days following his passing, mentions of other political figures such as Kalonzo Musyoka, Rigathi Gachagua and Martha Karua have increased, often appearing in connection with succession and the future of opposition politics.

This pattern suggests that while Kenyans are reflecting on the past, they are also looking ahead. The public discourse has already begun to explore questions of continuity and transition, who will shape the next phase of leadership, and what lessons the country will carry forward.

What the Data Reveals

Across millions of posts, a clear narrative emerges.

Kenya’s online discourse has moved from disillusionment to reflection, from fragmented debate to collective analysis. While frustration with governance persists, the conversation around Raila Odinga has evolved into something more introspective and unified.

The shift marks a rare moment in which digital dialogue has captured national sentiment at a time of transition, allowing data to illustrate not just what people are saying, but how a country processes history in real time.

About This Report

This report was produced by Rooted Social, one of the leading Pulsar partners in East Africa and ranked among the top five per cent of Pulsar experts worldwide.

Pulsar is an audience intelligence platform that analyses public conversations across social media, forums and digital news. By mapping narratives and tracking sentiment in real time, it provides a detailed understanding of how societies express, debate and reshape ideas.

Rooted Social uses this technology to uncover cultural and political insights that inform strategy, communication and research across the region.