Former Kenyan PM Raila Odinga dies in Indian hospital

Raila Odinga, a former Kenyan prime minister, has passed on.

Odinga died Wednesday in India after suffering cardiac arrest during a morning walk at an Ayurvedic hospital, his family told Kenyan newspaper The Standard.

Odinga had been receiving treatment at the hospital for what was reported as “bacterial infections” and was placed on bed rest.

He collapsed on the hospital campus and was later pronounced dead on arrival. He died aged 80.

Odinga was Kenya’s prime minister from 2008 to 2013 and led the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), a key opposition party.

His criticism of African politics travelled beyond Kenya.

In 2019, Odinga used Nigeria as an example of how public officeholders amass wealth illegally.

He contested the Kenyan presidency five times without success, alleging a stolen mandate at each run.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima once compared Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last elections, to Odinga.

Odinga often reconciled with the incumbent president after contentious elections.

After his most recent defeat in 2022, he joined President William Ruto in a so-called broad-based government, which brought several of his allies into key positions.

Odinga was Kenya’s favoured candidate to become chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission in elections held earlier this year.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also threw his weight behind the former Kenyan prime minister’s bid.

Despite strong regional support, he lost to Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.

In 2015, Odinga lost Fidel, his eldest son who was named after Fidel Castro, former Cuban prime minister.

Odinga is survived by Ida, his wife, and three children.

Ruto is expected to address Kenya on the former statesman’s passing.