Former Kenyan Prime Minister dies in Kerala, 7-day national mourning declared

Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has died in a hospital in Kerala, India. His family confirmed the news to the BBC. He suddenly fell unconscious while walking on Wednesday morning (October 15) and was rushed to Devmatha Hospital in Kerala.

The hospital said he suffered a cardiac arrest. Doctors tried for about 30 minutes but could not save him. He was pronounced dead at 9:52 am local time.

Before Raila's death, there were various rumors about his health. However, his family and close political aides denied these rumors.

Kenyan President William Ruto expressed deep grief and said, "Raila Odinga was a beacon of courage, the father of our democracy." He declared a seven-day national mourning across the country and visited Odinga's residence in the capital Nairobi to console his wife Aida Odinga and family members.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Raila Odinga was a wise leader of Africa and a dear friend of India.”

As news of Raila’s death spread, his supporters took to the streets of western Kenya and Nairobi. Raila Odinga was a legend in Kenyan politics and a symbol of the democratic movement. He ran for president five times, challenging the results each time.