Silence, speculation, blame game… Inside Raila Odinga’s final days
Kenya’s political heavyweight, Raila Amolo Odinga, breathed his last on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, while recuperating in India, aged 80.
His demise has shaken the nation as mourners flocked to different parts of the nation amid fears for Kenya’s future political landscape.
Always in the media attending political matters, Raila took a long absence from the public eye from September 22, when he graced the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Parliamentary Group meeting at a Nairobi Hotel.
The meeting deliberated on the forthcoming 20th ODM anniversary celebrations as well as the legislative agenda ahead of Parliament resuming sessions.
He later made a brief appearance on October 3, where he was briefed on the ongoing plans for the anniversary preparations.
Later that day, he celebrated his sister Akinyi Walkowa Odinga for earning a PhD in Management Sciences from Durban University of Technology in South Africa.
He also met Kenyan football club Gor Mahia’s executive team, where he was briefed on their preparation as the new football season kicks off.
The political premier remained silent and inactive on social media, mounting speculation online about his well-being.
The rumours caused concerns among supporters and political observers, prompting clarification from ODM and his family.
On October 5, ODM scoffed at circulating rumours that Odinga was indisposed, clarifying that he left the country on October 3 for an undisclosed mission abroad.
The matter quickly became a blame game tussle since ODM faulted the opposition for spreading the rumours.
On October 7, his wife, Ida Odinga, asserted that Odinga was in good health and urged the public to ignore the false reports.
“Raila Odinga is fine. Someone who is not staying with him knows that Raila is sick, yet I don’t know,” she remarked at a function in Nyanza.
To further quell the fears, Raila’s elder brother, Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, confirmed that the political don was unwell but was recuperating and resting in India, and not in the conditions alleged by a section of politicians to the media.
Addressing journalists in Ugunja, Siaya County, on October 11, Raila’s elder brother castigated the opposition for using the ODM leader’s health status to spread propaganda and cause panic among Kenyans.
Oburu allayed fears over Raila’s health, emphasising that the former Prime Minister was well and that he could return to Kenya anytime soon to resume his normal political duties.
“I want to tell you that very soon you will see him back. He is in India; people should not say they do not know where he is. He is not in the US or Dubai as alleged by some,” he told journalists in Ugunja, Siaya County.
“But I want to tell you that he is out and about, and he is just like any other human being who was indisposed a little, and he is now recuperating and resting, but he was not in those conditions alleged.”
Amid heightening concerns, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said that he talked with Odinga and he was in good health, calling out opposition leaders for playing cheap politics.
“Mzee Raila Odinga is safe and healthy. Those who are wishing him ill are not good people because it is against African tradition to wish anybody ill, even your worst enemy,” said Prof. Kindiki in Siaya on October 13.
X user Oketch Salah posted a video on October 14, claiming to have had dinner with Mr Odinga.
The former Prime Minster met his death on October 15 as he was walking with his sister, daughter, and a personal doctor, “when he suddenly collapsed”, according to Indian police.
Indian police told AFP that “An Indian police security officer and a Kenyan security officer were also with them at the time. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital, but was declared dead.”
A spokesman for the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre in Kerala, India, where he was admitted, also confirmed the death.
“He experienced some breathing difficulties and collapsed. He was provided CPR on the spot and having seen some sign of recovery, he was rushed to the nearest modern hospital,” the spokesperson told AFP.
“Despite repeated efforts by the medics, his condition deteriorated and the doctors were unable to save him.”
Odinga spent his early years in politics in jail and in exile, fighting for democracy during the autocratic rule of President Daniel Arap Moi.
He entered parliament in 1992 and ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017 and 2022, claiming to have been cheated of victory in the last four elections.
He died while being part of the broad-based government, a partnership with President William Ruto to streamline leadership and service delivery in Kenya.
