Breaking news: Raila Odinga Dead at 80: Kenya’s Longtime Opposition Leader Passes Away in India
- Afri Careers
- Oct 15
- 2 min read
The news that Raila Odinga is dead shocked many across Kenya and beyond. Reports indicate that the longtime opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga died on October 15, 2025, at the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital & Research Centre located in Koothattukulam, Kerala, India.
According to hospital authorities, Raila Odinga died after collapsing from cardiac failure during his morning walk on the hospital campus. He was rushed to emergency care but could not be revived. The death occurred around 9 a.m., and he had been under treatment at the facility for several days, accompanied by his daughter and personal doctor.
The announcement that Raila Odinga is dead follows a period of speculation given his absence from public life for days.
Throughout his life, Raila Odinga was a constant figure on the national stage:
He served as Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013.
He held the Langata parliamentary seat from 1992 to 2013.
He was a stalwart Leader of the Opposition for many years.
He contested for the presidency multiple times: he challenged President Moi in the early 2000s, Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013 and 2017, and last ran against William Ruto in 2022 (with backing from Uhuru) but was unsuccessful.
Despite those electoral defeats, Raila Odinga maintained a strong presence in Kenyan public life, championing reform, democracy, and the struggle for multiparty politics.
The fact that Raila Odinga is dead has deeply unsettled many in Kenya’s political sphere. Tributes have poured in from political allies, rivals, civil society, and ordinary citizens who regard him as a key architect in Kenya’s constitutional reforms and democratization.
His passing not only leaves a leadership vacuum in the opposition camp but also raises questions about the future direction of Kenya’s democratic movement.
Promises of a national mourning period and official funeral arrangements are expected in the coming days. The ODM party, allied politicians, and civil society organizations will likely play central roles in planning the memorials and paying respects.
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