Oburu Odinga has revealed that it was President William Ruto who facilitated the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s journey to India for medical treatment.

Speaking during his brother’s funeral service at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) on Sunday, October 19, 2025, Oburu expressed gratitude to the President for intervening and ensuring that Raila received the medical attention he needed.

“Who has stood with us right from the time I told him that Raila was sick? We were with him and Raila; we sat down, and we organised, and he agreed, and he is the one who organised the transport which flew Raila to India for treatment,” Oburu stated.

He explained that after informing the president about Raila’s illness, they held discussions and agreed on the best way to handle the situation. President Ruto personally organised the transport that flew Raila Odinga to India for treatment.

Oburu further disclosed that the president closely followed Raila’s progress and constantly checked on his condition. On the day of Raila’s passing, Oburu said he contacted the president to inform him that Raila was in a critical state.

Shortly after, upon receiving news from his sister Akinyi and other family members that Raila had passed away, he called the president again to relay the sad news.

“I also want to tell you that the president kept a vigil, and he always checked on Raila to know what was happening with him. The day Raila died, I first of all called him and told him he was in a very critical condition. I was told by my sister, Akinyi, that Adhiambo had called for India. So I called Adiambo,” he started.

Ruto’s role

According to Oburu, President Ruto was deeply saddened by the loss and immediately took charge of the arrangements surrounding the repatriation and funeral preparations.

He acknowledged that the magnitude of the events would have been overwhelming for the family to handle alone and commended the president for standing with them throughout the difficult period.

This comes after President William Ruto proclaimed that the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga should be accorded a state burial with full military honours. The funeral has been coordinated by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).