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The former prime minister of Kenya collapsed during a morning walk in southern India, where he received medical treatment.
The Kenyan leader of the opposition Raila Oding, a key figure in African policy, died at the age of 80 while traveling to India for medical treatment, according to local police and hospital officials.
The former Prime Minister, who, as the leader of the opposition, conducted five unsuccessful presidential campaigns between 1997 and 2022, has suffered a heart attack, Devamatha Hospital in the southern Indian state of Kerala has confirmed to the Associated Press agency on Wednesday.
Oding was a dominant force in Kenyan politics and his death would leave a significant vacuum to leadership as part of the country's political opposition before the 2027 elections.
An Indian police officer told the AFP news agency that Oding was on a morning walk, accompanied by his sister, daughter, personal doctor and Indian and Kenyan security staff when he collapsed.
“He was removed to a nearby private hospital, but was declared dead,” says Krishnan M, an additional head of the police in Ernaklam, Kerala.
Unnamed employees of Oding's cabinet also confirmed the death to news agencies.
The Indian newspaper Mathrubhumi said about death, adding that Oding was subjected to medical treatment in the state city of Kochi.
Prodemocratic campaign
Born January 7, 1945, Oding is the son of the first vice president in the country after independence in 1963.
A member of the Luo tribe, he spends most of his adult life in politics, including exile time and eight years in prison as a prison campaign-but has never achieved his goal of becoming Kenya president.
Oding first entered parliament in 1992 and held unsuccessful presidential campaigns in 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017 and 2022.
He claims to have been deceived by victory in the last four elections and protests after the contested elections in 2007 that led to Kenya's most serious match political violence After independence.
About 1300 people were killed and hundreds of thousands of displaced from their homes in the battles. Large -scale The protests also exploded During the 2017 election, in which the Supreme Court canceled the results of an initial survey and Oding withdrawn from the tracking, saying that he would not be free and fair.
Odinga's projection activism over the years has helped to achieve two of the most significant political reforms in the country: a multi-party democracy in 1991 and a new constitution in 2010.
In March, he signed a pact with Kenyan President William Ruto, who saw his opposition party Azimio La Azamja, involved in critical politics and his members appointed in the cabinet.
“Awesome Leader”
Former chief judge and President of Kenya, David Maraga, said he was “shocked” by the news of Oding's death.
Oding was “a patriot, an African, Democrat and leader who made a significant contribution to democracy in Kenya and in Africa,” writes Maraga at X.
“Kenya has lost one of her most terrifying leaders who formed the trajectory of our beloved country. Africa lost a leading voice in the insistence on peace, security and development. The world has lost a great leader,” he added.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abius Ahmed was among the first to respond, publishing to X: “On behalf of the Ethiopia government, I expand my sincere condolences in the passage of former Kenya Oding Prime Minister. May he rest in peace.”
I am shocked to learn about the death of former Prime Minister RT. HON. Rela Amolo Oding, Patriot, African, Democrat and leader, who made a significant contribution to democracy in Kenya and Africa.
Kenya has lost one of her most terrible leaders who have shaped … pic.twitter.com/md6vfxyt9f
– David Maraga (@dkmarga) October 15, 2025
