Raila Odinga Battled Head Blood Clot, Brother Oburu Confirms
Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga has revealed that his late brother, former ODM leader Raila Odinga, had been suffering from a blood clot on his head for years – a condition that required treatment in Kenya and abroad.
Speaking on TV on Sunday, November 2, 2025, Oburu said the clot was first treated by doctors in Nairobi but the medication to dissolve it weakened Raila.
“It was some clot on his head and it was being dissolved by our doctors here in Nairobi,” Oburu said, explaining that the medication made Raila feel weak and tired.
The senator said the effects of the medication forced Raila to miss several public events including the burial of former MP Dalmas Otieno. “I went to represent him there because he was feeling weak and tired because of that kind of medication,” he added.
As Raila’s condition persisted, he was evacuated to India for specialized treatment. According to Oburu, doctors in Mumbai cleared the clot and Raila started recovering. “When he went to India, they managed to clear that clot in Mumbai. So by the time he left the hospital there, he was up and about, alive and kicking,” he said.
Raila later went to Kerala to rest for about a week after being discharged from the hospital. Oburu also acknowledged President William Ruto’s intervention in facilitating his brother’s evacuation, saying it was key in getting Raila medical attention on time.
Oburu said Raila was supposed to leave Kerala on Friday, just two days before he passed on, after completing his rest period.
His revelation gives insight into why Raila had stepped back from public life recently. It also paints a picture of Raila’s last days – family support, government help and a quiet battle against a condition that had tested his strength.
Also Read: Oburu Explains Sudden Switch of Raila Odinga’s Coffin After Arrival from India
Raila Odinga Battled Head Blood Clot, Brother Oburu Confirms