Raila Had Suffered a Clot on His Brain, Oburu Reveals How Ruto Attempted to Save His Life by Evacuating Him to India on a Private Jet

Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga has revealed that the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was suffering from a blood clot on his brain, a condition that had severely affected his health weeks before his death.

Speaking in a televised interview on Sunday, November 2, Oburu disclosed that the clot was first detected and treated in Nairobi, but the treatment took a heavy toll on Raila’s body.

“It was some clot that was discovered on his head, and it was being dissolved by our doctors here in Nairobi,” Oburu said.

“The medication was strong, and it left him weak and tired. That’s why he could not attend some public events, including the burial of Dalmas Otieno. I went to represent him there.”

The late Raila Odinga during a past function.

According to Oburu, the doctors in Nairobi were using advanced clot-dissolving medication, but disagreements soon arose between medical specialists in Kenya and others in Dubai over the best course of treatment.

The conflicting opinions prompted urgent intervention from President William Ruto, who personally visited Raila at his Karen home to assess the situation.

Oburu narrated that the meeting between Raila and Ruto took place just a day before the evacuation.

“My brother told me that Ruto had returned from the United Nations General Assembly and that they were to meet at State House. Later he called me and said Ruto would come to his house at 6. I went there and waited, and the President came,” Oburu recounted.

During that meeting, the two leaders discussed Raila’s condition in detail. Oburu said the President acted swiftly and decisively, arranging for a private jet to fly Raila to India for specialized treatment.

“The President took that matter seriously and organised for his evacuation to India. I am very grateful to him for what he did. His quick reaction made everything possible,” Oburu said.

In India, Raila was admitted to a hospital in Mumbai, where doctors successfully cleared the clot.

“When he went to India, they managed to clear that clot that was there in Mumbai. By the time he left the hospital, he was up and about, alive and kicking,” Oburu explained.

After being discharged, the ODM leader moved to Kerala to recuperate.

Oburu said he spent about a week there regaining strength and was preparing to return to Kenya on Friday, two days before his passing.

The revelation offers the clearest account yet of Raila’s final medical journey and the coordinated efforts between his family and state officials to save his life.

It also underscores the personal involvement of President Ruto in facilitating the emergency evacuation, marking a rare moment of cooperation between two long-time political rivals.

Oburu’s testimony paints a somber picture of Raila’s final days, revealing how close the opposition leader came to recovery before his sudden death.

It also exposes the immense pressure and medical complexity surrounding his treatment, handled quietly under the watch of Kenya’s top leadership.

President William Ruto during a public rally on Thursday, October 30, 2025.