21 October 2025 | 12:07 CAT
3-minute read

Kenyan democracy champion praised as student of justice; Madagascar faces military transition

In this week’s Africa Report, Ayesha Kajee—founder of the South-African campaign group Right to Know and former board member of Transparency International South Africa—offered a wide-ranging perspective on two major developments across Africa: the death and state burial of Kenya’s opposition stalwart Raila Odinga and the coup in Madagascar. Kajee, who has worked with the Freedom of Expression Institute and at University of the Witwatersrand, spoke about the implications for governance, transparency and youth activism in both countries.

On Kenya, Kajee said Odinga’s state funeral underscored his long-standing role in shaping electoral reform and accountability. Odinga, who served as Kenya’s Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013 and repeatedly ran for the presidency, had been widely regarded as a major figure in the fight for multiparty democracy and constitutional change.

Kajee noted that Odinga’s influence extended well beyond opposition politics.

“The electoral commission really became a whole lot more efficient … and much of that can actually be laid at Raila Odinga’s door,” Kajee observed, and added that his burial with full state honours reflected recognition of that influence.

“He actually still had a remarkable impact on Kenyan politics … I think that is why he’s been buried with such full honours.”

Highlighting Odinga’s legacy, Kajee pointed out his role in improving transparency around elections, including making live-streaming of results more reliable. Those reforms were part of a wider strengthening of Kenya’s judiciary and electoral institutions, a legacy often overlooked in the immediate headlines.

Turning to Madagascar, Kajee described the recent power shift not as a straightforward military coup but as a volatile mix of youth protest, institutional collapse and military intervention. After weeks of demonstrations over power cuts, water shortages and corruption, the elite army unit CAPSAT announced it would side with protesters and oust President Andry Rajoelina.

Kajee emphasised that the coup followed a three-week popular uprising led by young people demanding access to basic services.

“They were basically saying they wanted electricity, they wanted water, and they wanted decent living conditions for every family, food on the table of every family.”

She stressed that the new leader, Michael Randrianirina, commander of CAPSAT, has pledged to hand back power within two years—but cautioned that the context is deeply fraught.

“Several of the organisers of the Gen Z protests have expressed concern… because of the country’s history of having members of the military take power and then refuse to relinquish it.”

Kajee noted that Madagascar is among the world’s poorest nations despite abundant natural resources and tourism potential—raising questions about how the transition might affect ordinary citizens rather than elites.

In conjunction, her analysis drew out parallels between the two nations: Kenya’s reforms were largely driven by political processes and strong opposition pressure over many years, whereas Madagascar’s upheaval came suddenly and outside of institutional electoral contestation. While Odinga’s legacy illustrates how opposition politics and accountability can shape governance, Madagascar’s case warns that institutional reform may be derailed if transitions are short-circuited by force.

Kajee concluded by cautioning stakeholders and donors to keep a spotlight on citizen participation, transparency and rights protection in both settings—especially where young people are at the forefront of change.

Listen to the Africa Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.