The Final Journey: How Raila Odinga's Health Unfolded to His Demise

The political landscape of Kenya was struck with profound sadness on October 15, 2025, with the announcement that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had passed away at the age of 80. His death in India marked the end of a weeks-long period of intense public speculation, conflicting reports, and ultimately, a tragic outcome about his health .

The timeline below summarizes the key events leading to this national tragedy.

DateEventKey DetailsPublic/Source StatementsEarly Oct 2025 | Initial health rumors emerge | Widespread speculation and "ill-health reports" begin circulating on social media . | Social media users claim Odinga is "critically ill," using an old 2017 photo as false evidence .
Oct 5-6, 2025 | ODM's first response | ODM party dismisses rumors, calls reports "politically motivated" misinformation . | ODM accuses political rivals of a "familiar campaign of misinformation" .
Oct 9, 2025 | Fact-check confirmation | Africa Check verifies viral photo is from 2017, confirming misinformation . | Fact-check concludes "photo does not show a critically ill Odinga in October 2025" .
Oct 12, 2025 | Family assurances | Brother Oburu Odinga and wife Ida Odinga assure the public he is fine and merely "indisposed" . | Oburu: "Raila is up and about... he was indisposed a little and is now recuperating and resting" .
Oct 15, 2025 (Morning) | Demise in India | Raila Odinga suffers a cardiac arrest during a morning walk in Koothattukulam, Kerala, India, and is pronounced dead . | Local police and hospital authorities confirm cardiac arrest. He had been at an Ayurvedic hospital for five days .

For about two weeks preceding his death, Kenyans were captivated and concerned by the unclear status of their former prime minister's health. The situation was exacerbated by a flood of online misinformation, including a photo from 2017 that was falsely presented as current evidence of his critical condition . In response, his political party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), issued strong statements dismissing the reports as a "coordinated smear campaign" orchestrated by political opponents .

As rumors intensified, those closest to Raila Odinga stepped forward to calm public anxiety. His elder brother, Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, directly addressed the media on October 12, insisting that the reports were "exaggerated and inaccurate" . He clarified that while Raila was "a little indisposed," he was simply recuperating and resting in India . Similarly, his wife, Ida Odinga, had earlier firmly assured the public that her husband was "fine," questioning the motives of those spreading unverified information .

The reassuring messages from family and allies made the official confirmation of his death just days later all the more shocking. According to Indian authorities and multiple international news reports, Odinga passed away on the morning of October 15 after suffering a cardiac failure during his morning walk on the campus of the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre in Koothattukulam, Kerala . He had been at the facility for treatment for five days and was accompanied by his daughter and personal doctor . This hospital had a prior connection to the family, as his daughter Rosemary had previously received successful treatment there for an eye condition .

The passing of Raila Odinga closes a major chapter in Kenyan history. His final weeks, marked by mystery and a nation's hope for his recovery, ended in a sudden loss that has left the country in mourning.