Siaya Governor James Orengo has raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the death of veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, suggesting that unanswered questions remain about the events leading to his medical evacuation and eventual passing.
Speaking during an interview on Thursday, February 5, Orengo said he was speaking with caution out of respect for Odinga’s family but insisted that the public deserved clarity regarding the circumstances that preceded the former prime minister’s death.
“I said this with a heavy heart, and I must be sensitive to the feelings of the family,” Orengo said. “So I would not say as much as I think I should say. At an appropriate time, I’ll try to talk about it a little louder.”
The Siaya governor suggested that Odinga may not have willingly traveled abroad for medical treatment, raising questions about the circumstances under which he was flown out of the country.
“But I’m saying if you look at the circumstances in which Raila was evacuated from Kenya, he didn’t go to India willingly,” Orengo said. “I think he was almost forced to go to India and to a particular institution with a company of certain individuals who I have a lot of questions to raise about.”
Odinga had reportedly been taken to India for specialized medical care before news of his death emerged, sparking widespread mourning across the country. However, Orengo indicated that key details about the situation remain unclear.
The governor also questioned the official narrative surrounding the cause of death, noting that there was still no publicly released post-mortem report.
“We don’t have a post-mortem report now,” he said. “But looking at all the elements Raila had, which were in the public domain, it’s quite clear that what caused his death had nothing to do with the elements that he had.”
Based on those observations, Orengo suggested that external factors may have contributed to the situation and called for a thorough investigation to establish the truth.
“So I believe that there was some intervention. And if a proper inquiry is held and established, the truth will come out,” he said.
Orengo further warned against quickly concluding that Odinga’s death was natural without a comprehensive inquiry, emphasizing the national significance of the late leader.
“The nation is being put to slumber to accept the death of Raila as natural,” he said. “But I’m saying that we need to look into it. There is a public interest, by virtue of his position.”
Odinga was one of Kenya’s most influential political figures, having played a central role in the country’s politics for decades.