Veteran Kenyan opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga has died at the age of 80, his family and party confirmed on Wednesday, 15th October 2025. Mr. Odinga suffered a fatal cardiac arrest during a morning walk in Kerala, India, where he was recuperating after receiving specialized medical treatment.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the political party Mr. Odinga led for decades, issued a statement through Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna confirming the news. “On behalf of the party, I send my condolences to the family, friends, party members and the millions across the world to whom the Rt Hon Odinga was a beacon of hope,” Mr. Sifuna stated on Wednesday morning, 15th October 2025, urging party members to remain united during the period of grief.

President William Ruto declared a week-long period of national mourning, ordering that the Kenyan flag be flown at half-mast at all public buildings and diplomatic missions abroad to honour the statesman.

The Final Weeks: A Private Health Battle

Mr. Odinga’s death followed a period of intense public speculation about his health after he withdrew from public life following his last major appearance on 3rd October 2025. In a candid interview on Sunday, 2nd November 2025, his elder brother and Siaya Senator, Dr. Oburu Oginga, revealed that Mr. Odinga had been battling a blood clot in his head. According to Dr. Oginga, his brother had been on strong medication prescribed by doctors in Nairobi, which had visibly taken a toll on him, forcing him to cancel public engagements.

Dr. Oginga disclosed that President William Ruto intervened personally after a meeting at Mr. Odinga's Karen home, organizing a chartered plane to evacuate him to Mumbai, India, for urgent treatment. “The president took the matter very seriously and organised his evacuation to India,” Dr. Oginga said, expressing the family's gratitude for the swift action. Doctors in Mumbai successfully cleared the clot, after which Mr. Odinga was transferred to the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic facility in Kerala to recuperate, a place his family trusted. He passed away less than a week into his recovery period.

A Nation Mourns, The World Pays Tribute

Tributes have poured in from across Kenya and the globe, reflecting Mr. Odinga's stature as a towering figure in African politics. Former President Uhuru Kenyatta eulogized him as “a father to the nation, a steadfast champion for the people, and a true son of Kenya.” Chief Justice Martha Koome remembered him as a statesman whose faith in the rule of law shaped the country's democratic journey.

International leaders also paid their respects. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan described his death as a tragedy “not just for Kenya, but for all of us,” while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised him as “a towering statesman and a cherished friend of India.”

Political Realignment and Succession

Mr. Odinga’s passing leaves a significant leadership vacuum and has triggered immediate political maneuvering. On Monday, 27th October 2025, the ODM party's Central Committee formally endorsed Dr. Oburu Oginga as the acting party leader to guide the party through the transition.

The party now faces a defining chapter. Dr. Oginga has declared that ODM will not return to the opposition but will continue its working relationship with the government, a pact Mr. Odinga initiated with President Ruto. Speaking at a memorial service in Homa Bay on Wednesday, 5th November 2025, he insisted the party would remain in the “broad-based government” until 2027.

However, signs of differing strategies are emerging. Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly (MCA), Robert Alai, has called for ODM to offer President Ruto unconditional support in the 2027 general election. In a statement on Monday, 3rd November 2025, Mr. Alai warned against making demands, stating, “We are going to 2027 as ODM to support President Ruto WITHOUT CONDITIONS.” This position appears to contrast with that of some party leaders who, according to reports, may seek to negotiate key positions, such as the Deputy Presidency, in any future alliance.

For over four decades, Raila Odinga was a central force in Kenyan politics, championing multi-party democracy, serving as a Member of Parliament for Langata, leading the nation as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013, and mounting five formidable presidential campaigns. As the nation prepares for a state funeral, the focus inevitably shifts to his succession and the endurance of his formidable political legacy.