The late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was reportedly battling a blood clot in his head before his death, according to his elder brother, Dr. Oburu Oginga.
Speaking during an interview with NTV on Sunday, November 2, Oburu revealed that Raila had first sought treatment in Kenya, but the local medication proved too harsh for his body.
Oburu explained that the doctors in Nairobi had diagnosed the blood clot and were using strong steroids to manage it. However, the medication was so powerful that it began to weaken Raila, forcing him to withdraw from several public appearances.
“He had a clot in his head, and doctors here in Nairobi were working on it,” Oburu said. “But they were using strong medicine known as steroids, which was wearing him down. That’s why you noticed he stopped attending some public events for a while.”
This condition, according to Oburu, was the main reason Raila skipped key events, including the burial of former Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno on September 20. Instead, Raila sent Oburu to represent him at the ceremony.
Around the same time, the highly anticipated ODM Party’s 20th anniversary celebration, which had been scheduled for October 10 to 12, was also postponed — a move that raised public curiosity about Raila’s health.
Realizing the local treatment was taking a toll on him, the decision was eventually made to have Raila flown abroad for specialized medical care.
Oburu disclosed that President William Ruto personally played a big role in arranging for Raila’s trip to India, where he would later receive successful treatment.
“When he went to Mumbai, India, the doctors managed to clear the clot completely. By the time he was leaving the hospital, he was strong again and went to recuperate in Kerala,” Oburu recounted.
He clarified that the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre, where Raila later collapsed before his death, was a facility their family often visited.
The hospital was known for offering traditional and alternative therapies, and the Odinga family had been using it for recuperation and holistic treatment over the years.
According to Oburu, President Ruto’s intervention came after he had a detailed meeting with Raila following the President’s return from the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
During the meeting, they discussed Raila’s health condition in depth. Ruto then suggested that Raila should be taken to India, as doctors there had more advanced medical equipment and could better handle the issue.
“We talked about the situation, and everyone agreed that Raila needed to go to India immediately because there were conflicting opinions between doctors in Dubai and those in Nairobi,” Oburu said.
“President Ruto even asked his own medical team to review the matter, and they also confirmed that India would be the best option. He took the matter very seriously.”
Following the consultation, President Ruto swiftly organized Raila’s travel arrangements. Within just 24 hours, Raila was flown to India aboard a private jet, where he received the much-needed specialized treatment.
Oburu praised the President for his quick response and assistance, saying that although the family had planned to take Raila abroad eventually, the timely action helped save crucial time.
“President Ruto moved very fast, and within a day, Raila was already in India getting treated,” Oburu noted. “As a family, we are very grateful for that. We could have taken him ourselves, but that might have taken longer, and his condition was serious.”
Dr. Oburu’s remarks shed new light on the late Raila Odinga’s final months, revealing the extent of his medical struggles and the behind-the-scenes efforts to save his life.
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