President William Ruto, for the first time on Sunday, opened up on former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's health struggles in the last two months before his death on Wednesday last week.
The President also revealed the frantic calls from Mr Odinga's family on the morning he died in India. Dr Ruto said it was Mr Odinga's elder brother, Dr Oburu Oginga, who first reached him through a WhatsApp text that the former PM was critically ill. The text came at 6:45am on Wednesday, according to the President.
Dr Oburu would later call again after 10 minutes to tell the President that “it appears we have lost Baba.” The information was confirmed to the President by Mr Odinga’s daughter, Winnie, who was with him in India.
President William Ruto pays tribute to Raila Odinga
“Raila called many people assuring them that he was well. We were planning to attend the Siaya Trade conference on Thursday. At 6:45am on Wednesday, Dr Oburu texted me on WhatsApp that ‘my brother is critically ill’.”
“I told him, ‘but we spoke to Baba and he told us he was okay’. I called some people who could not tell me Raila's status. Ten minutes later, Dr Oburu called and informed me that ‘it appears that we have lost Baba’.”
This even as the President revealed Mr Odinga’s health struggles in the last one month. He said Mr Odinga had been in and out of hospital for medical attention. He, however, did not disclose what he was being treated for.
The casket bearing the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga during the public viewing at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Kisumu on October 18, 2025.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
“The last one month was a difficult moment, his voice was hoarse, and he was weak because he was taking some medicine. His health was very concerning to me. He said had been to Dubai for treatment.”
He said that they had planned to meet but that did not happen after Mr Odinga’s doctors advised that he takes some rest in Malindi.
When Mr Odinga returned to Nairobi from Malindi, Dr Ruto said, he wanted to see him at State House, but the President told him since he was not feeling well, he would visit him at his Karen home. The President said they had dinner where Mr Odinga briefed him on his health status.
“I told him the that the government would cover his medical expenses wherever he went, whether to the US, China or India. We told him, ‘we don't want guess work’. We facilitated everything that Raila wanted,” he told thousands of mourners who turned up at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Technology for the funeral service before the burial.
The President also explained how he had a difficult time talking to Winnie about hastening the funeral arrangement within 72-hour as per Odinga's Will.
“I have discharged my responsibility to a brother, a friend and mentor. I thank his security details for standing with him always. I remember during our ODM days, Raila's bodyguard – Maurice Ogeta used to wipe our shoes when we came from campaigns.”
Kenyan President William Ruto delivers his speech during the funeral service of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Bondo, Siaya County on October 19, 2025.
Photo credit: Reuters
The revelation by the President corroborates the accounts by the Indian doctors on the day Mr Odinga died. As Kenyans were preparing to report to their work places on Wednesday morning, the Devamatha Hospital in Kerala, Southern India was abuzz with urgency.
Mr Odinga, Kenya’s second Prime Minister, had just been wheeled into the facility after suffering a cardiac arrest during a morning walk at about 8.30 am (6am Kenyan time).
By his side were his personal doctor and aide Maurice Ogeta. The two had just administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
“Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga was brought to our casualty emergency wing with a history of sudden collapse during his morning walk,” a Cardiologist, Dr Alphônš said.
“They had already started CPR. His doctor and security personnel were with him. We continued CPR and performed emergency intubation — inserting a tube into the respiratory system — and continued CPR along with other resuscitative measures,” she said.
She explained, “After stabilising him with IV fluids, we administered an injection to dissolve any possible clot in the coronary arteries.”
The coffin of Kenya's former Prime Minister Raila Odinga lies in the grave surrounded by floral wreaths during his burial at the Kang'o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County on October 19, 2025.
Photo credit: Reuters
When in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the medics in the room momentarily detected a heart rhythm. The beeping then faltered, followed by heartbeat flat line on the screen.
The medics also observed swelling in his lower right leg. His personal physician informed them that he had a history of diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. He had previously been treated for deep vein thrombosis. He had an inferior vena cava filter inserted in the vein.
“Recently, he had a thin subdural hematoma, which was detected last Saturday,” the cardiologist said.
