Raila's former aide Maurice Ogeta speaking during an interview, October 11, 2026. /SCREENGRABThe viral clip of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga walking in a hospital setting, which emerged shortly after his death, was filmed in Dubai, not India, his former aide Maurice Ogeta has revealed.
In an interview with local television stations, Ogeta clarified that the video was an old clip recorded after Raila had undergone his first surgery in Dubai.
"From that time we saw that clip to when we are now being told that sadly we have lost the former Prime Minister, if you can take us through, what really transpired because he seemed to be in good spirits," he was asked.
Ogeta dismissed the widely held belief that the clip was taken at an Indian hospital shortly before Raila died.
"Whatever clip that was circulated that went viral or whatever it is, of him in a gown and I was behind, that was not the clip of India. That was the previous clip when we were in Dubai when he did his first surgery," he said.
Records show that Raila underwent his first surgery in Dubai on June 21, 2020, at a facility run by a German organisation.
The operation was a minor back surgery for spinal canal stenosis (lumbar decompression and fusion).
He spent about three weeks recovering before returning to Kenya in July 2020.
The former Prime Minister died of cardiac arrest on October 15, 2025, sparking national mourning amid rushed burial arrangements in line with his wishes to be buried within 72 hours.
The clip emerged around that period, sparking mixed reactions and intense online speculation about his death.
Numerous conspiracy theories and conflicting timelines began circulating on platforms such as Facebook and TikTok, prompting key members of his inner circle to step forward and provide the public with information about what transpired.
Raila's sister, Ruth Odinga, said she made the difficult decision to switch off the life-support machines keeping him alive at the hospital in India after his breathing grew weaker.
According to Ruth, Raila had been resting at a resort in Kerala, India, and felt tired before sitting down during a morning walk.
His condition subsequently worsened, and he was rushed to hospital. She said she stood beside Raila's hospital bed as doctors confirmed that nothing more could be done.
She held his hand as she switched off the machine.
His daughter, Winnie Odinga, strongly defended the family's account, confirming that she was present in the room during her father's final treatment and that he died in her arms from natural medical complications.
Doctors at Devamatha Hospital in Koothattukulam, Ernakulam district, Kerala, where Raila was rushed by ambulance from an Ayurvedic facility where he had been staying, said he had been managing chronic illnesses, including diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease and a history of deep vein thrombosis.
They said he arrived with no detectable pulse or blood pressure and was pronounced dead at the hospital on the morning of October 15, 2025.
Ogeta, who had served as Raila's aide and personal security guard for 29 years until his death, also recounted the events leading up to the former Prime Minister's collapse.
He said Raila collapsed during his morning exercise routine.
"This particular morning was just like any other morning because he woke up by himself. I heard him opening his door, I opened mine as well and we met on the corridor, walked together to the living room, then to the veranda where he was changing to start walking," he said.
Ogeta said that after exchanging their usual morning pleasantries, he informed Raila that they needed to begin their normal routine of walking around the facility.
He said he advised Raila to stretch a little while still seated before starting the walk, and he obliged.
Raila then asked for a glass of water, which Ogeta said was also routine.
"So I got him that and he was so much in good moods," Ogeta said.
He said they completed the first round of the walk, covering approximately 50 metres, but had barely covered a quarter of the distance on the second round when Raila suddenly stopped.
"I asked him what's up, he said it's like something has hit him."
Ogeta said he asked Raila twice whether he was experiencing pain in his back or leg, but the former Prime Minister did not respond.
He said he offered to take him to a place where he could rest as he checked what was wrong.
"He just did this (tilted his head towards Ogeta) then gave me his hand. By the time I was trying to hold his hand so that we walk, I realised he was coming the whole body. He had lost control of his body," Ogeta said.
He said he held Raila and gently laid him on the cabro-paved ground, placed him in the recovery position and started calling for help.
Ogeta said his last conversation with Raila took place while they were still on the veranda.
They were discussing a woman working in a garden adjacent to the facility where they were staying.
During the conversation, Ogeta said, Raila told him he had been equally hardworking while growing up and would wake up very early to work on the farm.
He said Raila explained that, contrary to the comfortable life many might have imagined he led as the son of a Vice President, fetching firewood and water was part of his daily chores.
"There was no any other word other than the conversation we were having about the shamba and all that," he said.
