The previous Kenyan PM had collapsed throughout a morning stroll in southern India, the place he was receiving medical remedy.
Kenyan opposition chief Raila Odinga, a key determine in African politics, has died on the age of 80 throughout a visit to India for medical remedy, in line with native police and hospital officers.
The previous prime minister, who as opposition chief had waged 5 unsuccessful presidential campaigns between 1997 and 2022, had suffered a coronary heart assault, the Devamatha Hospital within the southern Indian state of Kerala confirmed to The Related Press information company on Wednesday.
Odinga was a dominant power in Kenyan politics, and his dying will go away a major management vacuum throughout the nation’s political opposition forward of elections in 2027.
An Indian police official instructed the AFP information company that Odinga had been on a morning stroll, accompanied by his sister, daughter, a private physician, and Indian and Kenyan safety officers, when he collapsed.
“He was rushed to a close-by non-public hospital, however was declared lifeless,” stated Krishnan M, further superintendent of police in Ernakulam, Kerala.
Unnamed officers in Odinga’s workplace additionally confirmed the dying to information businesses.
Indian newspaper Mathrubhumi had earlier reported the dying, including that Odinga had been present process medical remedy within the state’s Kochi metropolis.
Professional-democracy campaigner
Born on January 7, 1945, Odinga was the son of the nation’s first vp after independence in 1963.
A member of the Luo tribe, he spent most of his grownup life in politics, together with time in exile and eight years in jail as a pro-democracy campaigner – however by no means achieved his purpose of changing into Kenya’s president.
Odinga first entered parliament in 1992, and ran unsuccessful presidential campaigns in 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017 and 2022.
He claimed to have been cheated of victory within the final 4 elections, and led protests after the disputed 2007 election that led to Kenya’s most severe bout of political violence since independence.
About 1,300 folks have been killed and a whole bunch of 1000’s displaced from their properties within the battles. Massive-scale protests also broke out throughout the 2017 election, wherein the Supreme Court docket annulled the outcomes of an preliminary ballot, and Odinga withdrew from the follow-up, saying it will not be free and honest.
Odinga’s pro-democracy activism over time helped drive two of the nation’s most important political reforms: multiparty democracy in 1991 and a brand new structure in 2010.
In March, he signed a pact with Kenyan President William Ruto that noticed his opposition Azimio la Umoja occasion concerned in vital policymaking and its members appointed to the cupboard.
‘An amazing chief’
Kenya’s former chief justice and presidential hopeful, David Maraga, stated he was “shocked” by information of Odinga’s dying.
Odinga was “a patriot, a pan-Africanist, a democrat and a frontrunner who made vital contributions to democracy in Kenya and in Africa”, Maraga wrote on X.
“Kenya has misplaced one in all its most formidable leaders who formed the trajectory of our beloved nation. Africa has misplaced a number one voice in pushing for peace, safety and improvement. The world has misplaced a terrific chief,” he added.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was among the many first to react, posting on X: “On behalf of the Authorities of Ethiopia, I prolong my honest condolences on the passing of former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Could he Relaxation In Peace.”
I’m shocked to study of the demise of former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, a patriot, a pan-Africanist, a democrat and a frontrunner who made vital contributions to democracy in Kenya and in Africa.
Kenya has misplaced one in all its most formidable leaders who formed… pic.twitter.com/md6vfXyt9f
— David Maraga (@dkmaraga) October 15, 2025
