Raila Odinga Dies at 80 in India — Kenya Mourns “Baba,” National Mourning Declared

Veteran opposition leader and former prime minister collapses during morning walk in Kerala, India; President Ruto orders seven days of mourning and state funeral arrangements underway

Legendary Kenyan statesman Raila Amolo Odinga, aged 80, has passed away while undergoing treatment in India, news confirmed by multiple sources. In a country already engulfed by grief, President William Ruto has declared a week of national mourning and pledged a state funeral in honor of one of Kenya’s most iconic political figures.

As Kenya comes to terms with the loss, the country’s political class, citizens, and observers across Africa reflect on Odinga’s legacy, contributions, and the void his departure leaves in the nation’s delicate political landscape.

The Collapse & Death: What Happened in India

Odinga was in Kerala, India, seeking medical care, including Ayurvedic treatment, at Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic facility in Koothattukulam, according to local reports. 

On the morning of October 15, 2025, he collapsed during a walk within the hospital premises. 

He was rushed to Devamatha Hospital, where medical staff attempted resuscitation; however, he was pronounced dead at approximately 9:52 a.m. local time. 

Indian authorities have initiated standard protocols for foreigners’ deaths, including notifications to immigration and the Kenyan diplomatic mission. 

No official Kenyan statement has yet clarified every medical detail (e.g. underlying chronic conditions), though early reports and hospital statements indicate cardiac arrest as the immediate cause. 

Immediate National Response

President William Ruto addressed the nation, expressing sorrow and acclaiming Odinga as “a towering statesman, a patriot, and a unifier.” He ordered a seven-day national mourning period during which flags will fly at half-mast and announced that Odinga will be accorded a state funeral. 

A funeral committee was established, co-chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Senator Oburu Odinga (Raila’s brother), to manage logistics, repatriation, public ceremonies, and burial arrangements. 

Government emissaries, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, have already departed for India to oversee repatriation and coordination with Indian authorities and Odinga’s family. 

In Nairobi and other cities, crowds have gathered at Odinga’s homes in Karen and Bondo, laying tributes, candles, and expressing shock and grief. 

Family Wishes & Planned Funeral Logistics

Reports from family sources indicate that Odinga had expressed a desire to be buried quickly (within 72 hours) and in the family graveyard in Bondo (Kango Ka Jaramogi) adjacent to the burial plots of his father, Oginga Odinga, and his son. 

There will likely be a public lying-in-state at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi, before final funeral rites and burial in Bondo. 

The funeral committee is working to harmonize the family’s wishes with national protocol and security concerns, especially given the massive public turnout expected.

Repatriation is expected to take up to 48 hours, subject to transport and diplomatic clearance. 

Political Fallout & Legacy

A Life in Opposition & Reform

Raila Odinga’s political career spanned decades of high drama, resistance, and constitution-making:

Born on 7 January 1945, son of Kenyan independence-era politician Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Raila entered public life in a political family. 

He was jailed in the 1980s after the alleged 1982 coup attempt and maintained a long record of opposition to one-party rule under President Daniel arap Moi. 

In 1991, he was part of the movement pushing for multiparty democracy in Kenya — a tectonic shift in Kenyan politics. 

He ran for president five times (1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, 2022), often challenging results and filing legal petitions. 

After disputed elections in 2007, mass violence erupted, leading to a power-sharing deal; under the National Accord, Odinga became Prime Minister (2008–2013), co-governing under President Mwai Kibaki. 

He was a central voice in pushing for constitutional reform, culminating in Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, which remains a cornerstone of Kenya’s democracy. 

In recent years, he entered a political pact with President Ruto, bringing some ODM members into government positions — a shift from his long opposition identity. 

Leadership Vacuum & Succession Dynamics

With Odinga’s passing, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) faces a sudden leadership void. Internal jockeying is expected, and provincial ODM officials may emerge as contenders.

The broader Azimio la Umoja coalition may also recalibrate, especially in the run-up to the next general elections (2027).

Among political analysts, questions already swirl: Who succeeds Odinga as the symbolic opposition anchor? Will some of his reconciliation with Ruto reverse?

The death may reshape alliances, revive old tensions, and spark debates about the future direction of opposition politics in Kenya.

Public Reaction & Mourning Across Kenya and Africa

Across Kenya — in Nairobi’s Kibera, Kisumu, Bondo, Kakamega, and other towns — public mourning began almost instantly, with people visiting ODM offices and Odinga’s homes. 

Political leaders, heads of state, and international organizations have offered condolences. The African Union, various countries in Africa, and India’s prime minister declared solidarity. 

In Kenya’s social media space, tributes, archival photos, and reflections are trending. Many users invoke “Baba” — his affectionate nickname among supporters. 

What Happens Next — Timeline to Watch

1. Repatriation & Arrival in Nairobi: Government delegation in India to finalize transport; body expected to return within 24–48 hours.

2. Lying-in-State & Public Memorial Service: Likely at Nyayo Stadium, with speeches by dignitaries, public viewings, and vigil options for citizens.

3. State Funeral & Burial: Full honors, culminating in burial in Bondo at the family plot once the official ceremonies conclude.

4. National Mourning Period: Seven days of official mourning where flags are half-mast, public events subdued, and tributes across institutions.

5. Posthumous Reflection & Political Transition: ODM and other political formations must chart succession; national discourse to examine Odinga’s legacy and Kenya’s future.

In Memoriam — A Leader Who Defined a Generation

Raila Odinga was more than a politician: for many Kenyans, he was an emblem of resistance, aspiration, and political possibility. Over decades, he challenged autocracy, navigated political repression, campaigned for constitutional renewal, and remained a galvanizing voice even in defeat.

His death marks the end of an era. Whether Kenya can fill the void — not just in opposition politics but in national moral leadership — is now one of the central tests ahead.

Urban Gazette Online will continue to update this page with funeral details, official communiqués, photographic highlights, and public reactions from across Kenya and the continent.

Timeline of Odinga’s Political Life (key dates: birth, imprisonments, elections, PM term, reform milestones)

Top Tributes: Selected statements from President Ruto, AU Chairperson, opposition leaders

Public Reactions Gallery: Images from vigils, memorials around Kenya

FAQ: Why state funeral? What is ODM’s succession plan? What of the 2027 elections?