President William Samoei Ruto has given a list of Individuals to fly to India immediately following the passing on of the former prime minister Raila Amollo Odinga.
While giving a speech at statehouse on Wednesday, president Ruto mourned Raila as a national hero who not only fought for the rights of Kenyans but also championed for peace. He recognized Jakom’s death as one of the biggest loss not just to the family but also to the entire country,, Africa and the whole world.
The president was accompanied by Raila’s elder brother and siaya senator Oburu Odinga, all his cabinet ministers, members of the National Security Council, his deputy Kithure Kindiki, the attorney general Dorcus Oduor, and members of parliament such as the Majority leader Kimani Ichungwa.
The president revealed that he had consulted with the government of India which agreed to help facilitate the repatriation of the body of the ODM leader back to his home country Kenya.
Amongst the individuals that president Ruto named to travel to India immediately include Raila’s wife Mama Ida Odinga, Jaoko Oburu Odinga, the Prime cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi, the Interior cabinet secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, mining cabinet secretary Ali Hassan Joho,Majority leader Kimani Ichungwa, minority leader Junet Mohammed, Kevin Opiyo from the family of Jaramogi Oginga amongst others.
At the same time, the head of state declared a seven days of national mourning where the National flag- both locally and in the foreign offices will be at half mast as a sign of respect to the fallen enigma Raila Odinga. Ruto also announced that he would cancel all his public engagements immediately so that he can mourn the former Prime minister.
The head of state made this announcement at a day when he was supposed to launch the Siaya Investment Forum organized by the county government of Siaya. It remains unclear if the investment forum will continue or if the county government will postpone it to a later day following the unfortunate news of the passing of Mr. Odinga who was to receive president Ruto ahead of the conference.
Mr. Odinga reportedly collapsed during a morning walk at an Ayurvedic hospital in India where he had been receiving care.
Doctors at Devamatha Hospital in Koothattukulam confirmed that Odinga suffered a cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at 9:52 a.m. His body is currently being preserved at the facility as formalities are handled.
Odinga had travelled to India with his daughter Rosemary Odinga, who was receiving Ayurvedic treatment at Sreedhareeyam Hospital, the same facility that had previously helped her regain partial eyesight.
