Inside Raila Odinga’s health: What his family has revealed so far

For weeks, questions about the health of Raila Odinga, Kenya’s veteran leader, have dominated the national conversation.

The 80-year-old ODM party leader’s absence from public life since early September has fueled speculation online, from claims of hospitalisation to recycled images falsely showing him in a hospital bed.

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Amid the rising concern, Raila’s inner circle and family have gradually stepped forward to clarify his condition, emphasising that while he was briefly unwell, he is now recovering.

The first reassurance came from Ida Odinga, Raila’s wife and longtime confidant, who addressed the rumours on October 8.

“Raila is fit as a fiddle,” she declared, dismissing suggestions of serious illness as “malicious falsehoods.” Ida attributed the online frenzy to political mischief and urged Kenyans to focus on meaningful national issues instead of gossip.

“Someone who is not staying with him knows that Raila is sick, yet I don’t know?” she quipped, calling on the public to stop spreading lies about her husband. Her statement followed an October 4 clarification from Raila’s office, which said he was “safe and currently out of the country” on a routine trip.

However, as days turned into weeks without a public appearance, doubts persisted. On October 11, Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, Raila’s elder brother, offered the most direct update yet.

Speaking to reporters, he confirmed that Raila had indeed been unwell but is now recuperating.

“I want to tell you that Raila is up and about. Just like any other human being, he was indisposed a little and is now recuperating and resting,” Oburu said.

He added, “I want to tell you that very soon you will see him back. He is in India; people should not say they do not know where he is. He is not in the US or Dubai as alleged by some.”

He dismissed reports claiming Raila was in critical condition as exaggerated and inaccurate.

“He was not in those conditions that have been put in the press. I want to clarify that, and very soon you will see him,” he added.

Raila has also spoken out against what it calls a coordinated misinformation campaign. In a statement issued issued a statement through his spokesperson Dennis Onyango, dismissing the rumours as politically driven.

Confirming that Raila had travelled abroad on one of his routine trips and was in good health.“Hon. Raila travelled out of the country on Friday evening, one of the many trips he has made this year, and definitely not the last,” the statement read.

“He did not travel to Europe as reported by bloggers. He is not indisposed, as prayed for by his frustrated opponents.”

So far, Raila’s children, including Winnie Odinga and other family members, have remained silent on the matter, neither confirming nor commenting publicly about his health.