Turned ayurveda admirer after daughter's miracle recovery; Tearful adieu to Kenyan 'Baba'

KOCHI: Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who passed away unexpectedly in Kerala, was the beloved 'Baba' of Kenyans. Called as the 'father of democracy' by the Kenyan people, Odinga was a champion of development. His unexpected death during the preparations for the 2027 elections will be a big blow to the opposition.

Raila Odinga, a college teacher, was a staunch leftist. He was imprisoned several times. In 1982, he was brutally tortured in prison for his role in an attempted coup against President Daniel Moi. After being released from prison, he became more active in politics.

He entered parliament in 1992. While serving as prime minister, Odinga upended the agricultural and industrial sectors for good. In 2019, Odinga’s daughter regained her vision through Ayurveda treatment. Odinga thus fell into admiration over India’s traditional Ayurveda practices and dreamed of opening an Ayurveda hospital in Kenya.

Odinga and his family have been to Koothattukulam many times. The first time was in 2019 for his daughter's eye treatment.

The former Kenyan PM was undergoing treatment at the Sreedhareeyam Ayurveda Hospital when he died of a heart attack during his morning walk. He collapsed at 8 am while walking around the hospital's outhouse with a security guard.

"I feel very tired, I need to sit down," Odinga said before collapsing to the ground. He was given first aid and taken to a private hospital in Koothattukulam, but he died an hour later. The body was taken to Kenya on a special flight after postmortem and embalming at Ernakulam Medical College. He arrived on the 10th of this month along with his sister Ruth, daughter Winnie Irmagad Odinga, personal doctor David Olive, security officer Morris Joseph, and friend B. Srinivas Gowda, a native of Hyderabad, said Chief Physician Narayanan Namboothiri. He arrived in Koothattukulam by helicopter to relieve leg pain after undergoing treatment in Mumbai for a brain injury. He also had diabetes. Odinga was supposed to be discharged on Wednesday after recovering from his illness, but he insisted on staying for two more days.

“Odinga was a great statesman and a dear friend. He had a special affection for our culture and values. He was fascinated by Ayurvedic medicine and admired the ancient practices.”- Prime Minister Narendra Modi.