KENYA – Former Kenyan Prime Minister, Raila Odinga died on Wednesday after a cardiac arrest while in India at the age of 80.

According to Indian police and authorities, Raila Odinga collapsed while on a morning walk within an Ayurvedic treatment facility, and was rushed to a private hospital in Koothattukulam.

The spokesman for the Ayurvedic eye hospital said that he was pronounced dead at around 9.52 am local Indian time.

Mr. Odinga had arrived at Koothattukulam in Kerala’s Ernakulam district for Ayurvedic treatment.

His body is currently kept at the hospital.

Raila Odinga’s Mini-Biography

Raila Odinga was born on 7th January, 1945 in Maseno, Kisumu District in Nyanza Province to Mary Juma Odinga and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

He served as Langata member of parliament from 1992 to 2013.

He had made 5 attempts for Kenyan presidency, succeeding in neither.

He served as the Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013.

He has been the Kenyan opposition leader since 2013.

In February 2024, he vied for the African Union chairmanship, with the backing of the current Kenyan president, William Ruto, but lost to Djiboutian diplomat Mahamoud Ali Youssouf.

In his last days, he had joined the Kenyan government under the banner of “Broad-Based Government,” which had brought about some rift between those in his party opposed to the move.

In all his presidential attempts, Raila Odinga had always joined hands with the government, turning around his loss to personal gain.

He is survived by his wife, Ida Odinga, and their children.

Leaders from across Africa and beyond paid tribute, calling him a “champion of democracy” and a statesman whose impact extended far beyond Kenya’s borders.