Kenyans Mourn the Passing of Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga  

NAIROBI - Kenyans are mourning the death of the former Prime Minister, Rt. Hon Raila Odinga, who passed away this morning while having a morning hospital walk in India, where he was on treatment, but had stabilised according to the family.

Odinga, 80, has been the most consequential politician in Kenyan history and is said to have collapsed while walking along the corridors of an Indian hospital. He died in Kochi, India, and at the time of his death, he was the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Indian newspapers Mathrubhumi and The Hindu first reported the news on Wednesday morning, saying Odinga suffered cardiac arrest during a morning walk at the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre, where he has been under treatment for the last five days.

A spokesman for the facility told AFP that Odinga experienced some breathing difficulties and collapsed at around 07:45 am. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital, but his condition deteriorated.

An Indian police security officer and a Kenyan security officer were also with them at the time, a local police superintendent told the news agency. Mr. Odinga, who served as Kenyan Prime Minister between 2008-13, had run for president five times and came closer to winning on four occasions.

Born on January 7, 1945, in Maseno, Odinga was the son of Mary Juma Odinga and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first vice president under President Jomo Kenyatta. For long spells, he was locked in prison while fighting for multiparty democracy, and the vision was attained in 1992 when President Daniel Moi allowed pluralistic politics.

There has been speculation about the ODM leader’s health in recent weeks after he went missing from public events last month.

His elder brother, Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, on Saturday said he had been unwell but was “recuperating and resting” in India, and not in critical condition as alleged by a section of politicians to the media.

“I want to take this opportunity to clarify this, there have been a lot of rumours about our party leader, Raila Odinga, that he is very sick, that he is almost dying, and that he is completely out," the senator told journalists in Ugunja.

"But I want to tell you that he is out and about, and he is just like any other human being who was indisposed a little, and he is now recuperating and resting, but he was not in those conditions alleged."

Mr. Odinga is known for the handshake (a local term for political truces), having reconciled with Moi, Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta, and, most recently, William Ruto after close contests in presidential elections. He buried a hatchet with President William Ruto last year.

President William Ruto is reportedly headed to Raila's Karen home before the official announcement is made by the family. His death comes as a surprise, given that he has been politically active until last week before leaving for India.

GAROWE ONLINE