Nairobi, Kenya — 15 October 2025 — Raila Amolo Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya and one of Africa’s most enduring opposition voices, has died at the age of 80 after suffering a heart attack in India.
His death was confirmed by Devamatha Hospital in Kerala state, south India, after he collapsed during a morning walk while undergoing treatment. Despite prompt medical attention, he failed to respond to resuscitation efforts.
Odinga was a towering figure in Kenya’s political landscape, having served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013, following a power-sharing agreement that ended the post-election violence in 2007–08. He was also a perennial presidential contender, running unsuccessfully in five separate elections over several decades.
Born 7 January 1945 in Kisumu, Kenya, Odinga became a symbol of the struggle for democracy and reform. Even as he faced electoral defeats, he remained active in politics and in 2025 entered into an agreement with President William Ruto to give his opposition party a role in policymaking.
The news of Odinga’s death has evoked an outpouring of grief across Kenya and beyond. Tributes have come from political leaders, civil society groups, and ordinary citizens who recognize his contributions to constitutional reform, political pluralism, and social justice.
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