Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga Dies in India Aged 80
Nairobi - Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga has died at the age of 80. Odinga passed away on Wednesday morning in Kochi, a city in the southern Indian state of Kerala, where he was receiving medical treatment.
According to Indian police sources, Odinga collapsed during a morning walk with his sister, daughter, and personal physician. He was rushed to Devamatha Hospital in Koothattukulam where he was pronounced dead at approximately 9:52 am Indian time. Sources indicate the cause of death was cardiac arrest.
Odinga had been in India for treatment of an undisclosed condition, with some reports suggesting he was recovering from a mild stroke he suffered in Kenya. He had been at the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre in Kerala, seeking Ayurvedic treatment. A spokesman for the hospital noted that Odinga had shown signs of recovery in recent days. His daughter, Rosemary Odinga, had previously received treatment at the same facility and regained her eyesight in 2019.
Raila Odinga was born on January 7, 1945, and was a towering figure in Kenyan politics for decades. He served as Kenya's Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013, following a disputed presidential election in 2007 that led to a violent crisis. He ran for president five times (1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022), but was never successful. Odinga spent his early years in politics fighting for democracy, including time in jail and exile during the autocratic rule of President Daniel arap Moi.
Odinga entered parliament in 1992. In 2001, his party, the NDP, merged with KANU, and he was appointed Energy Minister. He later led the "Orange" campaign against President Kibaki in a 2005 constitutional referendum before founding the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). In 2018, Odinga initiated the "Handshake" with Uhuru Kenyatta and launched the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
News of Odinga's death has triggered reactions both in Kenya and across Africa. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed his condolences on X, formerly Twitter. Kenya's former chief justice, David Maraga, described Odinga as "a patriot, a pan-Africanist, a democrat and a leader who made significant contributions to democracy in Kenya and in Africa". Politicians and party officials have also shared their condolences on social media.
President William Ruto is expected to address the nation following Odinga's death. Odinga's body is currently being held at the hospital in India. Arrangements are being made to embalm the body before repatriation to Kenya.
Odinga's death leaves a leadership vacuum within the opposition in Kenya. His career was marked by his influence on Kenyan infrastructure, governance, and reform. He was known by the nicknames "Agwambo" and "Baba".
