Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has died in India following a heart attack, officials confirmed on Wednesday. Odinga, 80, passed away while receiving treatment at the Koothattukulam Sreedhareeyam Ayurveda Hospital in Ernakulam, India.
According to medical reports, the veteran opposition leader suffered a cardiac arrest during his morning walk and was rushed to the nearby Devamatha Hospital in Koothattukulam, where he was pronounced dead. His remains are currently preserved at the hospital as the family prepares an official statement.
Following the news, hundreds of mourners gathered outside his homes in Karen, Nairobi, and Bondo, Siaya County, to pay their respects. Police have since heightened security around both residences under the directive of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to ensure order and safety.
President William Ruto is expected to convene an extraordinary National Security Council meeting, to also chair a special Cabinet meeting as police enhance security at Raila’s homes
Odinga, one of Kenya’s most influential and enduring political figures, served as Prime Minister between 2008 and 2013 under the Grand Coalition Government. Over the decades, he vied for the presidency five times — in 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022 — without success.
He was widely regarded as the face of Kenya’s opposition politics and a champion for democratic reforms, earning both admiration and criticism in equal measure.
Raila’s death comes just months after his family confirmed that he had travelled to India for medical attention. His elder brother, Siaya Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga, had earlier clarified that Raila was unwell but responding well to treatment.
“Raila is in India and has been under medical care. He was only slightly indisposed but is recovering well,” Oburu said during a press briefing on October 9. “Very soon, you will see him back. He is not in the US or Dubai as alleged by some.”
Odinga’s wife, Ida Odinga, had also recently dismissed widespread rumours about her husband’s health, stating that he was only taking a break from the country’s political spotlight.
“He is fine, just resting abroad. How can someone who doesn’t live with him claim to know his health status, while I, who stays with him, am unaware of any issues? Baba is okay,” she said at the time.
In India, Odinga was known to frequent the Sreedhareeyam Ayurveda Hospital in Thodupuzha, where his daughter, Rosemary Odinga, previously received treatment after losing her eyesight due to a brain tumour.
During a past address, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had fondly recalled his conversation with Raila about his daughter’s recovery journey, praising the Kenyan leader for his resilience and hope.
As Kenya comes to terms with the loss of one of its most formidable political figures, the government is expected to coordinate with the family on plans to repatriate his body. A formal communication from the family is expected later.
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