KERALE, (HAN) – Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga passed away on Wednesday morning in Koothattukulam, Ernakulam district, after suffering a cardiac arrest during his daily morning walk, authorities confirmed. He was 80 years old.
According to hospital officials, Odinga collapsed within the premises of the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre, where he had been undergoing treatment. Despite being rushed for emergency care, he was pronounced dead at 9:52 a.m.
Odinga had arrived in Kerala six days earlier, accompanied by his daughter and close family members. The family had been regular visitors to the Ayurvedic facility, which had previously helped his daughter regain her vision.
His body has been placed at Deva Matha Hospital in Koothattukulam as authorities coordinate with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to complete official procedures.
A towering figure in Kenyan politics, Odinga served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013, playing a pivotal role in the country’s post-election reconciliation and constitutional reforms. Known for his passionate oratory and grassroots influence, he was instrumental in the power-sharing agreement that ended Kenya’s 2007–08 political violence.
Leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and a long-time opposition stalwart, Odinga contested multiple presidential elections and remained a defining voice in Kenya’s struggle for democracy and reform.
