Kenya is in a state of profound mourning following the death of former Prime Minister and veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga. The ODM leader passed away at the age of 80 after suffering a cardiac arrest on Wednesday, 15 October 2025, in the morning in India.

Odinga collapsed during a morning walk within the premises of the Ayurvedic facility and was rushed to Devamatha Hospital, a private hospital in Koothattukulam, where he was pronounced dead, according to a spokesman for the Ayurvedic eye hospital. According to reports, his daughter and other relatives were with him in India.

His daughter had been undergoing treatment at a separate facility, the Sreedhareeyam Hospital in Thodupuzha.

The news confirms the worst fears sparked by a recent and heated public debate over Odinga’s health. In recent days, opposition figures had raised concerns, which were vehemently dismissed by his elder brother, Oburu Odinga, his wife Ida Odinga, and his close allies, who had labelled the reports as mere rumours.

Odinga’s passing marks the end of an era in Kenyan politics. A central and often polarizing figure for decades, his journey was a defining thread in the nation’s post-colonial tapestry. From his initial foray into politics in the 1990s as a fiery pro-democracy activist, he became a symbol of the struggle for multi-party democracy, enduring imprisonment and detention under the Moi regime.

His political career was a relentless pursuit of the presidency, contesting and narrowly losing in the highly contested elections of 2007, 2013, and 2017. The 2007 election, in particular, plunged the country into a period of violent ethnic conflict, which was eventually resolved through a power-sharing agreement that created the position of Prime Minister for him.

In a remarkable and historic political realignment, Odinga recently shelved his longstanding rivalry with President William Ruto. After a contentious election in 2022, the two leaders forged a broad-based political pact through a “Handshake” initiative, aimed at fostering national unity and bi-partisan cooperation on key issues.

This move, while controversial among his base, fundamentally reshaped Kenya’s political landscape, moving him from the opposition leader to a key partner in Ruto’s government.

Odinga’s death creates a void in Kenyan politics, the full consequences of which will fundamentally reshape the landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections. For decades, he was the undeniable central pillar of the opposition, and his recent pact with President Ruto had left the country in a state of uncharted political alignment.

His passing now throws the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) into immediate disarray which could trigger a potentially divisive succession battle. With no clear heir apparent, the coalition may fragment as various leaders jostle to inherit his vast political base.

For President Ruto, the loss is equally consequential. The “handshake” provided a shield of political stability and bipartisan support. With Odinga gone, that pact loses its anchor, forcing Ruto to navigate a new, more volatile political field without his most significant partner and rival.

The coming months are expected to be marked by intense political realignments, new coalitions, and a power struggle to fill the vacuum left by “Baba.”

The 2027 elections will be the first in over a quarter-century without Raila Odinga on the ballot, marking an uncertain and unpredictable new chapter for the nation