Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga, a towering figure in the country’s politics, died of a heart attack while in India for medical treatment.
Kenyan opposition stalwart Raila Odinga has died at the age of 80 after suffering a heart attack during a stay in southern India, where he was receiving medical care.
Officials say Odinga collapsed while on a morning walk in Kerala, accompanied by family and security personnel, and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
His death creates a profound leadership vacuum in Kenya’s opposition as the country looks ahead to elections in 2027.
In Kenya, President William Ruto visited Odinga’s family home in Nairobi, while supporters gathered to pay respects, many emotional and waving twigs to ward off bad omens.
Expressing his shock, former Chief Justice David Maraga said: “Kenya has lost one of its most formidable leaders who shaped the trajectory of our beloved country. Africa has lost a leading voice in pushing for peace, security and development. The world has lost a great leader.”