Siaya Governor James Orengo has called for a formal judicial inquest into the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying the circumstances surrounding the opposition icon’s passing raise serious questions.
Orengo made the remarks during a recent interview with the Daily Nation, arguing that the nation deserves clarity beyond the official explanation that Odinga died of natural causes while receiving treatment abroad in October 2025.
“An inquest should be held into the death of Raila Odinga and should be presided over by a judge or a fully‑fledged bench,” Orengo told Nation in the interview.
He said the inquiry should be similar to past high‑profile probes and provide a transparent platform to examine all aspects of Odinga’s final days and treatment.
Orengo, a seasoned lawyer with decades of experience in public inquiries, said he has seen enough investigations to recognise patterns he believes merit scrutiny.
“I’m not just talking; I was involved in the Robert Ouko murder trial, and I could see the hand of the State in his death,” the governor said, invoking Kenya’s unresolved investigation into the 1990s murder of the foreign minister as a precedent.
He said there are “a lot of red flags around Raila’s death,” especially how he was evacuated to India, where he was seeking medical treatment, and the manner in which his body was returned to Kenya, likening it to cargo rather than that of a national leader accorded full dignity.
“I do not think Raila went to India willingly,” Orengo said, adding that he would expand on his concerns “at an appropriate time.”
Raila Odinga died on 15 October 2025 in India at the age of 80 after collapsing while under medical care; Indian authorities and hospital officials attributed the death to a heart attack.
The announcement sparked an outpouring of grief across Kenya, culminating in a state funeral and national mourning.
Orengo’s call for an inquest comes amid internal debates within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) about leadership succession and the party’s direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Some party figures have expressed support for more transparency, while others caution against speculation that could undermine national unity in a sensitive period.
Critics of Orengo’s stance argue that the official medical records and government statements have already accounted for Odinga’s cause of death and that reopening the matter without new evidence could fuel unnecessary political tension.
Still, Orengo insists that only a judge‑led inquest can quell lingering doubts and uphold public trust in the rule of law.