Odinga’s recent coalition with President William Ruto bolstered Kenya’s political stability at times when a return to the political violence of the past seemed possible, and his death now leaves Ruto in a much more vulnerable position. The ODM holds the second largest share of seats in Kenya’s parliament, and Odinga was the leader who decided most of the party’s policy positions on legislative issues. Ruto needed Odinga’s control of these votes to advance his agenda. Ruto responded to Odinga’s death by declaring a seven-day period of “mourning and deep reflection” in honor of “Odinga’s extraordinary contribution to our nation.”