By Matik Kueth
Raila Amolo Odinga, Kenya’s long-serving opposition leader and reformist icon, has died at the age of 80 while receiving treatment at an Ayurvedic eye hospital research center in Koothattukulam, Kerala, India.
The veteran politician had travelled to India in early October 2025 for what his family described as a routine medical check-up.
Initial reports suggested that he was only slightly unwell, with his elder brother, Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, assuring the public that Raila was “up and about” and steadily recovering.
Despite these reassurances, speculation over his health persisted; Oburu repeatedly dismissed claims that the ODM leader was in critical condition, terming the reports exaggerated and inaccurate.
He emphasized that Raila’s condition was not life-threatening and that he was undergoing normal treatment.
Raila’s death brings to a close one of the most defining political careers in Kenya’s history. For decades, he remained a dominant force in the country’s political landscape, from the struggle for multiparty democracy to his multiple presidential campaigns.
Even in his later years, despite reduced public appearances, he continued to engage actively in party matters and national dialogue.
Tributes have poured in from leaders across the political divide, celebrating Raila as a resilient reformist who dedicated his life to democracy, good governance, and national unity.
Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, one of Raila’s close allies, recounted an emotional final phone call with the late leader, just a day before his passing. Oketch said the seven-minute conversation was filled with instructions and words of encouragement. Among them was Raila’s request for him to appear on Ramogi TV and deliver a message of unity to the Luo community.
“At that moment, I thought it was just another political briefing,” Oketch said, struggling to hold back tears. “But now I realize it was his farewell. I feel completely lost.”
Raila Odinga’s passing marks the end of an era, one defined by courage, conviction, and a lifelong fight for a better Kenya.