Raila Odinga Dies at 80 in India; Kenya Declares 7-Day Mourning Period - October 2025

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga passed away at the age of 80 in Kochi, India, after suffering a cardiac arrest during a morning walk. President William Ruto declared a seven-day period of national mourning and convened an extraordinary meeting of the National Security Council. Tributes came from international figures, including US officials and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hailed Odinga as a “cherished friend of India.” Former President Uhuru Kenyatta also mourned his passing. In response to the death, the government postponed the NYOTA verification exercises and the Siaya International Trade and Investment Conference. Odinga's body is at a morgue in India awaiting repatriation, and his burial is scheduled for Sunday, October 19.