Governor Orengo: Raila's death was a great shock

Siaya Governor James Orengo has described the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as a “great shock,” saying the veteran politician had shown no signs of serious illness.

In an interview with NTV on December 30, Orengo, a longtime close ally of Odinga, said the former prime minister’s passing came unexpectedly.

“It came as a great shock because he had not shown any signs of being seriously unwell,” Orengo said.

He recounted that the day before Odinga’s death, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki visited his office, and Odinga had called to discuss plans for an international conference he was to close.

“He talked to the DP in my office together with the ODM party leader, Oburu Odinga. The day we were just about to go through the opening sessions, we got the news that he had just passed on. It was a great shock, tragic since he had not given me any signs that he was extremely under the weather,” Orengo explained.

“When we got the news, we had to stop and postpone the conference,” he said.

Raila died on October 15 at the age of 80.

He died of cardiac arrest while receiving treatment in India.

In a statement released by the hospital, doctors said the opposition leader collapsed during a morning walk at around 8:30 a.m. Indian time within the premises of the Ayurvedic wellness facility, where he had been recuperating.

Medical staff on-site administered CPR immediately before rushing him to Devamatha Hospital in Koothattukulam, where he was pronounced dead at 9:52 a.m.

The hospital said Odinga had been under treatment for diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. 

According to Mathrubhumi.com, an Indian media outlet, Raila was at the Ayurvedic centre for rest and recovery following a mild stroke he suffered while in Kenya.

A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed that he had been receiving regular care and was in the company of his family at the time.

The same hospital had previously treated his daughter, Rosemary Odinga, who regained her sight there after losing vision several years ago.

The former PM was laid to rest on October 19, at his extended family home at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County.

He was accorded a 17-gun salute and the ceremonial last post by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in a dignified military send-off.

The full military honours were conducted in line with the presidential proclamation issued by President William Ruto immediately after Raila’s death was announced.