Siaya Governor James Orengo has questioned the narrative surrounding the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, suggesting the veteran leader may not have traveled to India of his own volition.
During an interview on Spice FM this Thursday, March 5, 2026, Orengo argued that the public details concerning Odinga’s passing contradict the official account. He pointed out the lack of a released post-mortem report as a key concern.
“I said this with a heavy heart, and I must be sensitive to the feelings of the family. So I would not say as much as I think I should say. At an appropriate time, I’ll try to talk about it a little louder. But I’m saying if you look at the circumstances in which Raila was evacuated from Kenya, he didn’t go to India willingly,” Orengo said.
The governor further alleged that external pressure played a role in Odinga’s final journey, raising suspicions about the individuals who accompanied him to a specific medical facility.
“I think he was almost forced to go to India and to a particular institution with a company of certain individuals whom I have a lot of questions to raise about,” he added.
Orengo believes the Kenyan public has a right to understand the truth behind the death of such a significant national figure. He argued that the official narrative remains incomplete and lacks the transparency required for a leader of Odinga’s stature.
“We don’t have a post-mortem report now. But looking at all the elements Raila had, which were in the public domain, it’s quite clear that what caused his death had nothing to do with the elements that he had. So I believe that there was some intervention. And if a proper inquiry is held and established, the truth will come out,” he said.
The governor, who has raised these concerns multiple times recently, noted that high-profile deaths require intense scrutiny. Drawing from his experience with previous political cases, he suggested that official assessments often benefit from independent verification.
“The nation is being put to slumber to accept the death of Raila as natural. But I’m saying that we need to look into it. There is a public interest, by virtue of his position,” he said.
Odinga, who was 80 at the time of his passing, managed several chronic health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. He also suffered from deep vein thrombosis in his right leg, which required the surgical placement of an IVC filter.
Official accounts credited his death to cardiac arrest following a period of specialized medical care. Dr. Sister Alphons, a cardiologist at Devamatha Hospital in Kochi, reported that Odinga collapsed during a morning walk while receiving Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala. Despite prolonged CPR efforts, medical teams could not revive him.
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions, causing it to suddenly stop beating. This immediately halts blood flow to the brain and other vital organs.
