Raila Odinga, the former Prime Minister of Kenya, passed away at the age of 80 while undergoing treatment in Kerala. He reportedly suffered a heart attack on Wednesday morning during prayer at an Ayurvedic wellness center in Koothattukulam, where he had been staying for the past six days.
Odinga had traveled to India accompanied by his daughter, Rose Mary, to seek treatment at Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre. Rose Mary, who had previously lost her vision, had regained partial sight through treatment at this facility.
Raila Odinga was a prominent figure in Kenyan politics, serving as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013. Despite running for president five times, he never secured a win. Since 2013, he had led the opposition and remained active in various political movements. His career included allegations of corruption, multiple arrests, and shifting political alliances.
Born in 1945 in Kenya’s Kisumu district, Odinga was the son of Jaramogi Odinga, the country’s first Vice President, and Mary Jum Odinga. He pursued higher education in Germany beginning in 1962. Upon returning to Kenya, he worked at the Kenya Bureau of Standards and was later detained in 1982, marking the beginning of his deeper political involvement.
Initially a proponent of parliamentary governance, Odinga later advocated for a decentralized presidential system, aligning with the framework of Kenya’s current constitution.
He is survived by his wife, Ida Odinga, and four children: Rose Mary, Fidel, Raila Jr., and Winnie.
