- Raila Odinga suffered cardiac arrest on Wednesday morning, October 15, and died while on treatment at the Devamatha Hospital in Southern India
- Doctors say his condition was too bad to be saved; he was confined to the ICU, where the CPR and other resuscitative measures failed
- His body was later wheeled into the morgue at Devamatha, where the preparations to repatriate it began
Eli Odaga, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
The body of the late Raila Odinga is currently lying in the Devamatha Hospital morgue in Southern India.
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Raila died at Devamatha, where he was rushed after collapsing on Wednesday morning, October 15, while on a walk.
He had initially been undergoing treatment at Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre before the tragic fall.
Raila suffered cardiac arrest.
What medics who treated Raila said
The medics at Devamatha explained that they strived to save him through the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) procedure and other possible measures to no avail.
According to the CPR specialist who attended to him, there was no proof of his heart beating at the time of his admission.
He was confined to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Immediately after his admission, the medics intubated him with an endotracheal tube to aid in breathing after it was evident he had difficulty taking air in and out.
The 80-year-old died in the course of the doctors’ efforts.
The medics regretted that all the measures did not yield, and sadly, Raila had to breathe his last.
“We continued CPR and other measures, but we could not make him survive. We are very sorry that he is no more with us. And our very sincere condolences and prayers for his family and the Kenyan people,” said the lead medic, a CPR specialist.
In their further examination, the medics learned that Raila was diabetic, had kidney-related complications and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in the right leg, and a history of collapsing.
Besides CPR, the specialist further shared that Raila was subjected to other emergency measures, including placement in the IVC filter to assess blood clots, given he had DVT, and an injection alongside thrombolysis to dissolve the clots that might have formed in the veins.
All the foregoing ended in futility.
Raila’s body, draped in a green cloth, would later be seen being wheeled to the morgue department of the hospital by the nun sisters and other medics escorted by the Indian police officers.
With Raila’s body in the morgue, the preparations for its repatriation began immediately.
Meanwhile, President William Ruto dispatched a delegation to fetch Raila’s body from India for his final rites in Kenya.
Who will bring Raila’s body home from India?
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi is leading the team. They departed Kenya for India on Wednesday evening, October 15.
They are expected to land back with Raila’s body early Thursday, October 16.
Others in the delegation include Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, Mining CS Hassan Joho, National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah, minority leader Junet Mohamed, IODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna, and close family members, among them Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, Raila’s elder brother, and his widow, Mama Ida Odinga.
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Ruto confirmed that the Indian government will assist in returning Raila’s body to Kenya, while Deputy President Kithure Kindiki will head the national funeral planning committee.
At the same time, the president announced suspending his official commitments.
Will Raila Odinga be given state funeral?
Given Raila’s status, the president announced that the deceased would be accorded a state funeral.
Nyayo Stadium was identified as the venue for Raila’s state funeral.
Ruto, in a formal proclamation, stated that Raila’s funeral will be accompanied by all the honours, including the military spectacle.
The president declared seven days of mourning for Raila, with flags hoisted at half mast in honour of the deceased.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
