Former Prime Minister of Kenya Raila Odinga has died after suffering a cardiac arrest while in Kerala, India at 80 years.
According to police and hospital authorities, Odinga collapsed during his morning walk on the grounds of an Ayurvedic facility in Koothattukulam, in the Ernakulam district. He was rushed to the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre, where he was pronounced dead at 9:52 a.m. local time.
Odinga had arrived in Koothattukulam six days prior, accompanied by his daughter and other family members. A spokesman for the hospital said Odinga and his family had been visiting the facility, which had previously helped his daughter regain her vision.
His body has been moved to Deva Matha Hospital, police said. Authorities have notified India’s Foreigners Regional Registration Office to proceed with the necessary protocols.
Raila Odinga served as Kenya’s prime minister from 2008 to 2013, a critical period for the nation. His tenure followed a power-sharing agreement that ended the violent political crisis after the 2007 presidential election. He was a central force in national reconciliation and a key advocate for the constitutional reforms that followed.
A longtime opposition leader and head of the Orange Democratic Movement, Odinga was known for his charismatic oratory and deep grassroots support. He contested the presidency multiple times and remained one of Kenya’s most prominent and influential political figures until his death.
His passing is expected to send shockwaves across Kenya and the wider East African community, where he was a respected elder statesman and a symbol of democratic struggle.
