Kenyan Opposition Leader Raila Odinga Passes Away in India
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has died in India at the age of 80, Indian police confirmed on Wednesday.
According to Krishnan M, Additional Superintendent of Police in Kerala, Odinga collapsed while taking a walk with his sister, daughter, and personal doctor.
Both an Indian and a Kenyan security officer were also present at the time.
“He was rushed to a nearby private hospital but was declared dead,” Krishnan said.
A member of Odinga’s political team also confirmed his death to AFP, though they requested anonymity pending an official statement from the party.
A spokesman for the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre in Kerala, where Odinga had been receiving treatment, said the incident occurred around 7:45 a.m.
“Mr Raila was on his morning walk when he suddenly experienced breathing difficulties and collapsed,” the spokesman said.
“He was given CPR and taken to a modern hospital, but despite repeated efforts, the doctors were unable to save him.”
Born on January 7, 1945, Odinga was a key figure in Kenya’s struggle for democracy during the autocratic rule of President Daniel Arap Moi. He spent years in jail and in exile for his activism.
A member of the Luo tribe, Odinga entered parliament in 1992 and ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022 — claiming electoral fraud in the last four attempts.
AFP
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
