Kenya has officially entered a period of national mourning following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, who passed away on Wednesday morning in Kerala, India, while receiving medical treatment.

In a Presidential Proclamation issued from State House, Nairobi, President William Samoei Ruto described Odinga as “a titan of conscience, a visionary of uncommon resolve, and a defender of the defenceless whose legacy will illuminate Kenya’s democratic path for all time.”

The statement, bearing the official seal of the Republic, announced that Kenya will observe a period of national mourning beginning immediately and lasting until sunset on the day of Odinga’s interment. 

During this time, the national flag will be flown at half-mast at State House, all public offices, military installations, and Kenyan diplomatic missions worldwide.

According to hospital officials in Koothattukulam, a town in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, Odinga suffered a cardiac arrest during a morning walk within the premises of an Ayurvedic treatment facility where he had been undergoing therapy. 

He was rushed to a nearby private hospital and pronounced dead at 9:52 a.m. local time, according to a statement released by hospital authorities and confirmed by Indian police

President Ruto further directed that the late opposition leader be accorded a State Funeral with full military honours, citing Odinga’s monumental contribution to Kenya’s political evolution and constitutional reform.

“Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s name is etched indelibly in the annals of our Republic’s journey toward greater freedom, democracy, and prosperity. His was a voice that fearlessly spoke truth to power, championed reform, and summoned us always to the higher ideals of nationhood,” the proclamation read.

Born on January 7, 1945, Raila Odinga dedicated his life to public service and democratic struggle. He served as a Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister, Leader of the Official Opposition, and became Kenya’s second Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013.

President Ruto hailed Odinga as “the father of our democracy, a renowned Pan-Africanist, and a statesman without equal”, noting that Kenya was “a much better place today because of his struggles, sacrifice, leadership, and vision.”

The proclamation also extended condolences to Mama Ida Odinga and the extended Odinga family, praising the couple’s enduring companionship and shared commitment to national unity.

Odinga’s death marks the end of a towering political era in Kenya and the wider African continent. His leadership during the country’s turbulent democratic transitions — and his role in the enactment of the 2010 Constitution — cemented his place among Kenya’s founding reformers.

“May Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s family be comforted; may his memory be honoured; and may his example be emulated,” President Ruto concluded.

Preparations for Odinga’s state funeral are underway, with further details expected from the Office of the President and the Odinga family in the coming days.

By ChimpReports