Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has died at the age of 80 while receiving treatment in India.
The veteran politician passed away in Koothattukulam, a town in the Ernakulam district, after suffering a heart attack during his morning walk.
According to reports, Odinga collapsed suddenly and was rushed to Sreedhareeyam Hospital for emergency treatment.
Despite doctors’ efforts to save his life, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Medical sources said he had shown signs of fatigue earlier but did not report any major health issues before the incident.
Odinga had been in Koothattukulam for the past six days, where he was undergoing specialized treatment at Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Center, a facility he had visited several times before.
His close association with the hospital and its staff was well known, as he had sought natural therapy there in the past.
After suffering the heart attack, Odinga was first taken to Deva Matha Hospital in Koothattukulam for emergency care.However, efforts by medical teams to revive him were unsuccessful.
His daughter and several family members were present at the hospital at the time of his passing.
Plans are now underway to repatriate his body to Kenya.
Officials from both the Kenyan and Indian embassies are coordinating arrangements for transportation and state protocols.
The Kenyan High Commission in New Delhi is expected to issue a formal statement on the matter soon.
The news of his death has sent shockwaves across Kenya and beyond.
Odinga, a long-serving opposition leader and five-time presidential candidate, was one of Africa’s most prominent political figures.Known for his push for democracy and good governance, he played a major role in shaping Kenya’s modern political history.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously spoken about Odinga’s visits to Koothattukulam during his Mann Ki Baat radio address.
