Breaking: Prominent Opposition Leader Raila Odinga Dies At 80 In India

By Gad Masereka

Kenya’s longtime opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga has died while undergoing treatment at an Ayurvedic eye hospital and research centre in Kerala, India. He was 80.

Hospital authorities at the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre in Koothattukulam, Ernakulam district, confirmed that Mr. Odinga suffered cardiac failure during his morning walk on the hospital grounds at around 9 a.m. on Wednesday. He had been receiving treatment at the facility for five days, accompanied by his daughter Rosemary and a personal physician. His body has since been embalmed, with further arrangements being coordinated by the Kenyan Embassy in New Delhi and India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

Mr. Odinga’s death brings to a close one of the most consequential political lives in Kenya’s post-independence history. A figure both revered and controversial, he spent decades at the heart of Kenya’s political transition, consistently advocating for democracy, multiparty reform, and social justice. His political journey was defined by resilience, defiance, and an enduring commitment to what he often called “the second liberation” of Kenya.

Born in January 1945, Raila Odinga was the son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first vice president, who was also a leading figure in the country’s independence movement. Raila inherited his father’s political legacy and carried it through turbulent times that saw him imprisoned, exiled, and eventually elevated to the highest levels of national leadership.

He served as Kenya’s Prime Minister between 2008 and 2013, a position created following a power-sharing agreement after the disputed 2007 general election that plunged the country into violence. His tenure was marked by efforts to restore national unity, strengthen devolution, and rebuild public confidence in governance.

Beyond his official roles, Odinga was regarded as the voice of reform in Kenya, leading the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and contesting the presidency five times. Though he never clinched the nation’s top seat, his influence over Kenya’s political direction remained unmatched.

In Kerala, where he drew his last breath, Odinga’s visit had a deeply personal connection. His daughter, Rosemary Odinga, had lost her sight in 2017 following optic nerve damage and later underwent successful treatment at the same Ayurvedic hospital. Raila had often spoken fondly of the physicians at Sreedhareeyam, crediting them with restoring his daughter’s vision and hope. “We found light again in this place,” he once said during a 2019 visit, reflecting his gratitude to the hospital’s specialists.

News of his passing sent shockwaves across Kenya and the broader African continent. In Nairobi, mourners began gathering outside his home in Karen and at the ODM Party headquarters, with several political leaders expressing disbelief and grief. Kenyan President William Ruto, in a statement, hailed Odinga as “a towering statesman whose contributions to democracy will forever define our nation’s history.”

Regional leaders, including Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan, described him as a unifying voice in East Africa who consistently championed dialogue over division. “Raila believed in Africa’s collective progress and stood for justice even when it came at great personal cost,” President Suluhu said.

At the Sreedhareeyam facility in Kerala, the atmosphere was somber. Staff members recalled Odinga’s humility and warm interactions during his stay. “He greeted everyone with kindness. Even during his treatment, he would ask about our families and show genuine concern,” one nurse recounted.

Odinga’s death marks the end of an era for Kenya’s political establishment. For millions who admired his persistence, he represented hope for a fairer and more inclusive society. For his critics, he was a formidable opponent who never shied away from confrontation in the pursuit of change.

As arrangements are made to return his body home, Kenya now faces a moment of reflection on the legacy of a man who shaped its modern political identity. His passing not only leaves a void in the country’s leadership but also closes a chapter that spanned generations of struggle, reform, and resilience.

Raila Odinga’s life story, intertwined with Kenya’s own, will remain a defining narrative of courage and conviction — one that continues to inspire a continent still striving toward the ideals he lived and died for.