SIAYA, Kenya – President William Ruto has revealed that he personally intervened to ensure the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga received medical treatment abroad, shedding light on the pair’s behind-the-scenes relationship in the weeks before Raila’s death.
Speaking during Raila’s funeral in Bondo on Saturday, President Ruto recounted his frequent consultations with the veteran opposition leader, describing how Raila’s health had visibly deteriorated in his final month.
“We consulted often, but the last one and a half months were difficult,” Ruto said. “Every time I met Raila, his voice was hoarse, and he kept telling me he was weak because he was on medication.”
Ruto said Raila had informed him about seeking medical attention at the American Hospital and Canadian Hospital in Dubai, where he was under the care of his Kenyan doctors led by neurosurgeon Dr. Olunya.
The President narrated how, while attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, he remained in touch with Raila and even planned to visit him in Dubai on his way back to Kenya.
“I told him I would pass through Dubai for a check-up and that we would meet when I returned, because I was concerned about his health,” Ruto told mourners.
After returning to Kenya, Ruto said he scheduled a meeting with Raila for the following weekend, but the former Prime Minister travelled to Malindi for rest on his doctor’s advice. The two later agreed to meet the following Tuesday.
“When Tuesday came, Raila called and told me he wanted to come to my office,” Ruto recalled. “But I told him, because you are unwell, go home and I will come to see you in the evening.”
That evening, Ruto visited Raila at his Nairobi home, where they were joined by Raila’s wife Ida Odinga, his brother Oburu Odinga, and his daughter Winnie.
“We talked for a long time, and he explained how he was feeling,” the President said. “We all told him that we didn’t want any guesswork regarding his health and assured him that the government would facilitate any medical assistance he needed.”
Ruto added that Raila had considered travelling to Germany, China, or other countries for further treatment before settling on India — where, he said, the government arranged for his care.
The funeral, attended by thousands at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) grounds, marked the end of Kenya’s national mourning period for Raila — a towering political figure remembered for his decades-long struggle for democracy, justice, and unity.
Mourners included local and international leaders, dignitaries, and citizens from across the country, all paying tribute to a man whose political journey shaped Kenya’s post-independence history.
