Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga has shed new light on why former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s treatment in Kenya was unsuccessful, ultimately leading to his transfer to India for specialized care.
Speaking during an interview with NTV on Sunday, November 2, Oburu disclosed that Raila had been receiving treatment in Nairobi after doctors discovered a blood clot in his head. However, the medication prescribed locally specifically strong steroids ended up weakening him.
“He had some clot on his head, and it was being resolved by doctors here in Nairobi, but they were using strong medicine, which was called steroids, which was wearing him down. That’s why you saw him pulling out of some public functions,” Oburu explained.
The Siaya Senator revealed that the side effects of the treatment caused Raila to miss several key public appearances, including the burial of former Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno on September 20, where Oburu represented him. Around the same period, the ODM Party’s 20th anniversary celebrations, slated for October 10–12, were also postponed.
According to Oburu, the turning point came after President William Ruto personally intervened. Following discussions with Raila after his return from the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Ruto reportedly advised that he be flown to India for advanced medical care.
“We agreed that he must go there immediately because there were conflicting positions taken by doctors in Dubai and here. The President took that matter very seriously,” Oburu said.
Within 24 hours, arrangements were made for Raila to travel aboard a private jet to Mumbai, where Indian specialists successfully cleared the clot. Afterward, he recuperated in Kerala, at the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre, a facility familiar to his family.
Oburu lauded President Ruto’s swift action, noting that while the family could have eventually taken Raila to India, the President’s intervention saved crucial time that ensured his recovery.
