President William Ruto has opened up about the late Raila Odinga’s challenging final weeks, revealing how his family and the government worked to secure specialized medical care abroad.
Speaking on Sunday before the burial, Ruto said Odinga’s health had sharply worsened in the six weeks leading to his death, prompting consultations in Dubai and other international hospitals.
“The last one and a half months were very difficult times. Every time I met Baba, his voice was hoarse. He kept telling me he was weak because of the medication he was taking, and I became very concerned,” Ruto said.
The President said doctors abroad were increasingly worried about Odinga’s condition, leading his medical team, headed by Dr. Oluoch Olunya, to make repeated adjustments to his treatment. Despite his illness, Odinga remained engaged in national affairs, keeping in touch with Ruto while the President attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“When I came back from New York, he told me, ‘Bill, I am in Malindi. The doctors have told me to rest, but I’ll be back on Tuesday,’” Ruto recalled.
Ruto later visited Odinga at his Karen residence in Nairobi, where Mama Ida Odinga hosted a family dinner attended by Odinga’s elder brother, Dr. Oburu Odinga. During this meeting, the leaders agreed that Odinga should be flown abroad for advanced treatment.
“He told us how he was feeling, and we all agreed we didn’t want any guesswork regarding his health. We assured him the government would facilitate whatever treatment he needed. At first, he mentioned Germany and then China, but ultimately, he chose India,” Ruto explained.
Ruto added that Odinga initially appeared to be improving under treatment in Kerala, India, even calling friends and officials in Kenya to confirm his progress.
“He made calls saying he had been discharged and would return for follow-up treatment after six months. He even mentioned that he would pass by Dubai and attend the Siaya Investment Conference,” Ruto said.
Odinga’s condition, however, suddenly worsened. Ruto received urgent WhatsApp messages from Dr. Oburu Odinga around 6:45 am on Wednesday, notifying him of a rapid decline.
“A few minutes later, Winnie Odinga called. I told her, ‘Please, Winnie, don’t tell me any bad news.’ But she said, ‘The bad news has happened. My father is no more,’” he recalled.
In consultation with the family, Ruto contacted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to coordinate logistics for transporting Odinga’s body from Kochi to Mumbai. Modi responded promptly, ensuring that the former Prime Minister received full diplomatic and military honors during repatriation.
Describing Odinga’s passing as a profound personal and political loss, Ruto acknowledged the impact on himself and the nation. “Many commentators say this is a big blow for William Ruto. Yes, it is. It is a very big blow,” he said.
Raila Odinga, 80, died on October 15 at the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre in Kochi, India.
