The family of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga has revealed new details about his final moments, indicating that he was on the path to recovery before his untimely death earlier this week.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Raila’s younger sister Ruth Odinga said that the ODM leader had shown remarkable improvement and was even preparing to return home before his sudden collapse.
According to Ruth, Raila was not admitted to hospital on Wednesday but was staying at a resort with close relatives after undergoing a routine medical checkup.
“He was doing very well. We were all happy because he was regaining his strength and had even resumed his morning walks,” Ruth explained. “He seemed in high spirits and was looking forward to returning home on Thursday.”
She clarified that contrary to circulating reports, Raila did not collapse suddenly but rather sat down after feeling tired following his walk.
“He mentioned feeling a bit tired and sat down to rest. We thought it was just normal fatigue, but when he became unresponsive, we called for an ambulance immediately,” she said.
Ruth described her brother’s condition earlier in the day as “calm and cheerful,” noting that the family had been optimistic about his recovery after what doctors termed as a successful health evaluation.
The Odinga family has since appealed to the public to avoid speculation about the cause of death, emphasizing that official postmortem results will be released once the medical team completes its analysis.
Meanwhile, preparations for Raila’s final journey continue under the coordination of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and the national funeral committee. The body viewing venue has been shifted from Moi Stadium to Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu, to enhance security and accessibility.
President William Ruto, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and regional leaders are expected to attend the upcoming state memorial service before Raila’s private burial in Bondo, Siaya County.
The death of the 80-year-old opposition leader has drawn tributes from across the world, with many describing him as a champion of democracy, justice, and reform.
