- David Oluoch Olunya served as Raila Odinga’s personal doctor for nearly two decades, walking with him through surgeries in Kenya and abroad
- He was among the last people by Raila’s side in India, performing CPR during the ODM leader’s final moments
- A University of Nairobi graduate and Royal College of Surgeons fellow, Olunya built Kenya’s modern neurosurgery unit and mentored countless surgeons
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
For nearly twenty years, Kenyan neurosurgeon David Oluoch Olunya stood beside Raila Odinga, guiding the late opposition leader through some of his most delicate health battles.
Source: Facebook
Olunya was not just Raila’s doctor, he was a constant presence through moments of crisis and recovery, both in Kenya and abroad.
He was among the last people by Raila’s side in India, where the former prime minister died on Wednesday, October 15, after suffering a cardiac arrest.
How did Olunya try to save Raila in India?
In a now widely shared video, the Nairobi-based neurosurgeon was seen performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) outside Devamatha Hospital in India, desperately fighting to save his longtime patient and friend.
Those final images spoke of devotion beyond duty, an experienced medic doing everything possible to hold onto life.
Olunya’s bond with Raila went back decades, shaped by shared trust and countless medical journeys.
He had accompanied the ODM leader to hospitals across continents, overseeing consultations and surgical procedures that demanded both skill and discretion.
Oluoch Olunya’s biography
According to Africa Infoline, Olunya is a graduate of the University of Nairobi, where he earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) in 1985.
He later joined the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, where he attained the FRCS (Edinburgh) in 1991 and the FRCS (SN) in 1998, specialising in neurosurgery.
When he returned to Kenya in 1999, Olunya joined the University of Nairobi’s College of Health Sciences, where he strengthened the Department of Surgery and helped establish a modern neurosurgery unit.
At the Nairobi Hospital, where he has served as a consultant neurosurgeon since 1999, Olunya has handled some of the country’s most challenging surgical cases. His reputation for precision, empathy, and professionalism has earned him deep respect from both peers and patients.
Olunya is the son of Joseph Hannington Oluoch, a retired physician who once served as the family doctor of the late Robert Ouko.
Source: Facebook
Did Raila undergo head surgery?
One of Olunya’s most publicised moments came in June 2010, when he performed a head procedure on Raila at the Nairobi Hospital.
BBC reported that the operation relieved pressure caused by a buildup of fluid outside the brain, a condition that had triggered severe headaches. Working alongside fellow neurosurgeon Mahmood Qureshi, Olunya oversaw the successful surgery, reaffirming his expertise and the trust Raila placed in him.
Beyond neurosurgery, Olunya’s practice covers a wide range of general surgical services. His work includes managing gastrointestinal and endocrine disorders, performing procedures for abdominal conditions such as hernias and appendicitis, and treating traumatic injuries that require surgical repair.
During Raila’s funeral service held in Bondo on Sunday, October 19, Raila’s brother Oburu Odinga took a moment to acknowledge Olunya’s commitment, praising him for his years of dedicated service and professionalism in caring for the former prime minister.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
