- Oburu Oginga shared details of his last phone conversation with his brother Raila, hours before his passing, including the plans they had made
- The Siaya senator narrated how he received the news of Raila’s death from their sister Ruth, who was with the former prime minister in India
- He also recounted his initial reaction to the news and the decisions he had to make as the patriarch for the well-being of his family
The passing of former prime minister Raila Odinga on October 15 left a deep wound in the hearts of his family and supporters.
Source: Facebook
Among those most affected was his brother and Siaya senator, Oburu Oginga, who has now opened up about the emotional turmoil he faced upon receiving the devastating news.
How did Oburu Oginga receive news of Raila’s death?
Speaking to NTV, Oburu revealed that he had spoken to Raila on the phone just hours before his passing.
From their final conversation, Oburu said he could tell Raila was in good spirits, making the news of his sudden death even more shocking.
During their lengthy conversation, the brothers had made plans to meet in Dubai to spend a few days together.
“I did not expect him to go so abruptly. I thought that he would be seriously sick and then just like other people, you would expect to see something that would take his life,” he said.
On the morning of October 15, Oburu was preparing for a golfing session in Kisumu when he received a call from his sister, Wenwa.
Source: Instagram
She informed him that their other sister, Ruth, who was with Raila in India, said he had collapsed and was in critical condition.
“I almost collapsed because it really shocked me. How had he collapsed and he was being resuscitated in ICU,” Oburu recounted.
Due to a language barrier between Raila’s family in India and the doctors attending to him, Oburu was advised to call his Indian doctor friend to get an accurate explanation.
The doctor confirmed that Raila was in critical condition but reassured him that medical staff were doing their best to save his life.
Minutes later, Wenwa called again, saying that Ruth had phoned, crying and unable to explain what had happened. Oburu then called Ruth directly.
“I called Ruth, and before I asked her, she just told me, ‘We have lost him.’ Then I called Winnie and she told me, ‘Uncle, we have lost the battle.’ That is when I almost collapsed, but I said I had to be strong as the only remaining heir and the head of the family, because if I also collapsed, what would happen to the others? I said I had to try my best even if I was finished. We have not recovered,” Oburu said.
Watch the video below:
What was Raila’s relationship with Oburu like?
During the same interview, Oburu reflected on his close relationship with his late brother.
He revealed that whenever Raila received multiple gifts, such as clothes or shoes, he would often share them since they were the same size.
He also recalled that before his passing, they had discussed how to manage the Jaramogi family estate to prevent disputes within the family in the future.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
