Odinga suffered a cardiac arrest during a morning walk at an Ayurvedic hospital and was rushed to a nearby facility, where he was pronounced dead around 9 a.m. local time.
A source close to Odinga’s office confirmed the news to Reuters, though no official statement had been released by his family or the Kenyan government as of mid-morning.
Kenyan media outlets, including The Star and Kenyans.co.ke, were among the first to report the incident, citing the Indian newspaper Mathrubhumi as the initial source.
Odinga had been receiving treatment in Kerala for an undisclosed ailment, marking yet another chapter in a life defined by resilience amid health challenges and political battles. Born on January 7, 1945, in Maseno, western Kenya, Odinga was the son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first vice president and a towering figure in the independence struggle.
Educated as a mechanical engineer in East Germany, Raila—nicknamed “Agwambo” by supporters—entered politics in the 1970s, quickly becoming a vocal critic of the one-party state under President Daniel arap Moi. His activism led to multiple detentions, including a six-year imprisonment without trial following a failed 1982 coup attempt.
Odinga’s political career spanned over five decades, marked by his relentless pursuit of the presidency in five unsuccessful bids: 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022.
Each campaign was fraught with controversy, allegations of electoral fraud, and waves of ethnic tensions that scarred the nation. The 2007 election, in particular, triggered Kenya’s worst post-independence violence, killing over 1,300 people and displacing hundreds of thousands.
International mediation, led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, resulted in a power-sharing deal that installed Odinga as Prime Minister in a coalition government with incumbent Mwai Kibaki—a role he held until 2013. Despite never securing the top job, Odinga’s legacy as a democracy advocate is profound. He played a pivotal role in restoring multiparty democracy in 1991 and championing the 2010 constitution, which devolved power and strengthened human rights protections.
In recent years, he forged unlikely alliances, including a reconciliation with former rival Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of the 2022 polls, and later with President William Ruto, leading to Azimio la Umoja coalition members joining the cabinet.
Just months ago, in February 2025, Odinga ran for the African Union Commission chairmanship but lost to Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf.
When South Sudan’s opposition leader Riek Machar was first detained in March 2025, Odinga made an attempt to persuade President Salva Kiir to pursue the path of peace, though his effort was overshadowed by diplomatic complexity between Juba and Kampala.
Odinga leaves behind his wife, Ida Betty Odinga, whom he married in 1973, and their four children: Rosemary, Raila Jr., Fidel, and Winnie.
His death has sent shockwaves through Kenya, a nation where Odinga was both revered as a freedom fighter and reviled by critics as a perennial spoiler. On social media platform X, reactions poured in swiftly, blending grief, reflection, and pointed commentary. “Immortal. That is what Raila Odinga made his name to be. Now the curtains of life have closed on him, after a life so eventful,” wrote political strategist Javas Bigambo.
Others condemned those celebrating the news, with one user stating, “You must be sick if you are enjoying Raila Odinga’s death,” accompanied by a sombre image.
Political observers noted that Odinga’s passing could reshape opposition dynamics, potentially elevating figures like Babu Owino as the next “Luo kingpin.”
As Kenya mourns, tributes are expected from across the political spectrum. President Ruto’s office has yet to issue a formal response, but the National Assembly’s proceedings on Wednesday were overshadowed by the breaking news.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday paid his condolences, saying, “On behalf of the Government of Ethiopia, I extend my sincere condolences on the passing of former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga. May he rest in Peace.”
Odinga’s body is reportedly being prepared for repatriation to Nairobi, where state honours are anticipated. In a career defined by unyielding pursuit of justice, Raila Odinga’s death marks the end of an era—but his influence on Kenya’s democratic journey endures.
