By Mr Odeke
Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has died at the age of 80, a source from his office told Reuters on Wednesday.
Indian media reports indicated that Odinga, who was in Kochi, India, as part of medical treatment, suffered a cardiac arrest during a morning walk. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Odinga was a dominant and often polarizing figure in Kenyan politics. He ran unsuccessfully for president five times, and his career was closely tied to the struggle for democracy and constitutional reform in Kenya.
Among his most notable contributions:
He was a key advocate for the reintroduction of multiparty democracy in Kenya in the early 1990s.
He led sustained opposition efforts, notably after the disputed 2007 election, which triggered violence and national crisis.
After the 2007–08 crisis, he served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013 in a coalition government formed to restore stability.
He was influential in the 2010 constitutional reform process, which introduced significant changes to Kenya’s governance structure.
Local Indian media gave more granular detail about his death. According to Mathrubhumi, Odinga collapsed within the premises of an Ayurvedic facility during his walk and was taken to Devamatha Hospital in Koothattukulam, where he was declared dead around 9:52 a.m. (local time).
A spokesman noted that Odinga was in India along with family members, and the hospital communicated the death to local authorities, including the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), in line with procedural requirements.
Kenyan outlets added that he had arrived in Koothattukulam, Kerala’s Ernakulam district, about six days earlier for treatment, and that his daughter and other relatives were present during the incident.
His death marks a major turning point in Kenyan politics. Odinga’s role as opposition stalwart, reform advocate, and bridge-builder had made him a central figure in the nation’s political narrative for decades.
