Kenya’s veteran politician and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has died in India at the age of 80.
Mr Odinga passed away on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital & Research Centre in Koothattukulam, Kerala, after suffering a heart attack during his morning walk.
According to statements from hospital staff and police, Mr Odinga collapsed while walking within the hospital premises. He was taken to a private hospital in Koothattukulam, where he was pronounced dead. Medical officials said the death occurred at 9:52 a.m.
A hospital spokesperson confirmed: “We made every possible medical effort, but Mr Odinga did not survive the heart attack.”
Visit to Kerala and Medical Treatment
Mr Odinga had arrived in Kerala several days before his death, accompanied by his family and personal doctors. He was undergoing Ayurvedic medical treatment, a traditional Indian therapy.
Reports indicate that the treatment involved daily walks, health assessments, and a special eye treatment process.
His daughter, Rosemary Odinga, had also received treatment at the same hospital in 2017 after suffering from optic nerve damage. Mr Odinga had previously expressed his gratitude to the hospital for helping his daughter regain significant eyesight.
Political Legacy
Raila Odinga served as Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013 in the coalition government formed after the 2007–2008 post-election violence.
He was a long-serving Opposition Leader, participating in national politics for over three decades. Mr Odinga represented the Lang’ata constituency in Parliament from 1992 to 2013, and was a presidential candidate in multiple elections.
Across East Africa, he was known as a firm advocate for democratic reforms, a key contributor to Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, and a supporter of regional development initiatives.
Repatriation and Public Reaction
The Kerala hospital said Mr Odinga’s body is being preserved while awaiting formal diplomatic procedures and instructions from the Kenyan High Commission in New Delhi.
Reports indicate the body will be embalmed before being flown back to Kenya. The Kenyan government and its embassy are coordinating the repatriation and official burial arrangements.
Political leaders and Kenyan citizens, both at home and abroad, are expected to issue formal condolences to the family.
News of Mr Odinga’s death spread rapidly across social media and news outlets in Kenya and beyond. Citizens, political figures, and former colleagues have praised his contribution to democracy, constitutional reform, and civil rights.
His death marks a major loss for Kenya and East Africa. Raila Odinga’s legacy as a reformist leader, Prime Minister, and opposition figure will be remembered by generations to come.
