“Raila Died Walking, He Didn’t Collapse,” Maurice Ogeta Breaks Silence On His Boss’ Final Moments

For months, speculation, political intrigue and conflicting accounts have surrounded the death of Kenya’s veteran opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Now, one of the men who stood closest to him for nearly two decades has offered what may be the most intimate and detailed account yet of the statesman’s final moments.

Maurice Ogeta, Raila’s longtime personal bodyguard and trusted aide, has broken his silence, dismissing widespread claims that the Orange Democratic Movement leader collapsed before his death in India.

Speaking emotionally during a ceremony at the Odinga family home in Karen on Monday, where Gor Mahia Football Club presented its latest league trophy to Raila’s widow Ida Odinga, Ogeta recounted the events of October 15, 2025, when the veteran politician breathed his last.

According to Ogeta, Raila was undertaking a routine therapeutic walk at a medical facility in Kerala, India, where he had been receiving treatment. The exercise formed part of his daily recovery programme and, despite his health challenges, the former premier remained determined to keep moving.

Ogeta revealed that Raila had informed him before the walk that he intended to complete five laps around a short walking track measuring about 50 metres.

The first lap passed without incident.

However, moments into the second round, Raila unexpectedly stopped.

Standing just behind him, Ogeta immediately sensed something was wrong and moved closer to offer assistance.

What followed, he says, lasted only seconds.

“My boss just stopped,” Ogeta recalled. “Many people have been saying he fell down or collapsed, but that is not what happened. He simply stopped.”

Concerned, Ogeta asked whether there was a problem and whether he could help.

The response was brief.

“He just said, ‘Aii’,” Ogeta said, fighting back emotion. “That was the only word.”

According to the bodyguard, those became Raila’s final words.

The account sharply contrasts with reports that emerged immediately after Raila’s death, some of which suggested he had collapsed during a morning walk before being rushed for emergency medical attention.

Even members of the Odinga family have previously offered differing descriptions of the incident. Raila’s sister, Ruth Odinga, had earlier indicated that her brother collapsed before his condition worsened.

The varying accounts have fuelled persistent public debate over what exactly happened during the final moments of one of Kenya’s most influential political figures.

The uncertainty has also fed wider political speculation.

Siaya Governor James Orengo has repeatedly questioned the circumstances surrounding Raila’s death, making explosive claims at public gatherings that the ODM leader was “killed” by unnamed individuals. While Orengo has stopped short of providing evidence or naming those allegedly responsible, his remarks have intensified public curiosity and kept the issue alive in political circles.

Other leaders, including Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, have also hinted that more information regarding Raila’s death could emerge in future.

Despite the controversy, Ogeta’s account paints a far less dramatic picture than many of the theories circulating online and in political circles.

Instead, it portrays a leader spending his final moments doing something that had become part of his disciplined daily routine.

The revelation came during an event that itself reflected Raila’s enduring legacy beyond politics.

Fresh from securing another Kenyan Premier League title, Gor Mahia officials visited the Odinga family to honour the club’s longtime patron. Throughout the years, Raila remained one of the club’s most influential supporters, frequently stepping in with financial assistance during periods of economic hardship.

His support became particularly significant during the final years of his life, with donations helping sustain the club’s operations and player welfare as it pursued domestic success.

As tributes continue to pour in months after his death, Ogeta’s emotional testimony has offered Kenyans a rare glimpse behind the public image of a political titan who dominated the country’s political landscape for decades.

For a nation still grappling with the loss of a leader many simply called “Baba”, the account provides a deeply personal final chapter.

According to the man who never left his side, Raila Odinga did not collapse. He did not spend his final moments confined to a hospital bed.

He simply stopped walking.

And then he was gone.