Kenyan Opposition Leader Raila Odinga Dies in Kerala Ayurvedic Facility

Raila Odinga, a prominent Kenyan opposition leader and former prime minister, tragically passed away on October 13, 2025, at the age of 80. Odinga, who had been in Kerala, India, for Ayurvedic treatment, suffered a cardiac arrest while on a morning walk within the premises of the treatment facility in Koothattukulam.

Odinga, a member of the Luo tribe, was a pro-democracy campaigner who had spent eight years in prison. He had contested the Kenyan presidency five times, claiming to have been "cheated of victory" in the last four elections. In 2008, he became prime minister through a power-sharing deal aimed at ending the violence that erupted after the 2007 presidential election, in which he was the defeated candidate.

Kenyan leaders and international figures have expressed their condolences over Odinga's passing. Former Kenyan chief justice and current presidential candidate David Maraga described Odinga as "a patriot, a pan-Africanist, a democrat and a leader who made significant contributions to democracy in Kenya and in Africa." Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also offered his sincere condolences on behalf of the Ethiopian government.