What limits did Raila Odinga face as prime minister in Kenya’s coalition government?

As prime minister in Kenya’s coalition government (2008–2013), Raila Odinga faced significant constraints that limited his ability to implement his reform-oriented agenda. These challenges included:12

• Exclusion from Decision-Making: Odinga reported that ministers from his party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), were frequently sidelined from key government discussions, leading him to boycott cabinet meetings in 2009.1
• Executive Interference: His authority was undermined by President Mwai Kibaki, who blocked Odinga’s attempts to suspend ministers accused of corruption in 2010.1
• Persistent Political Conflict: The coalition was marked by ongoing friction regarding the distribution of government posts and power-sharing between the PNU and ODM factions.13

While these limitations hindered his immediate goals, Odinga and Kibaki eventually collaborated to successfully campaign for a new constitution, which was approved by referendum in 2010 and introduced significant reforms, including the devolution of power to local government levels.1