Veteran Kenyan journalist and Director of Strategy and Innovation of Citizen TV, Linus Kaikai, has revealed the details of his last phone conversation with ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Speaking on Citizen TV on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Kaikai revealed that he had called Raila on Sunday, October 12, 2025, and had a seven-minute phone conversation.
According to Kaikai, Raila was jovial and in high spirits as he enquired about his health. Raila is said to have asked Kaikai about the state of the country and revealed to him that he had read in the newspapers about rumors about his health.
“Ni siku ya huzuni kubwa kama tunavyoona kwenye video zinaendelea kupeperushwa. Ni siku nzito sana, kwa sababu ukiangalia maisha ya Raila Odinga, sidhani kama kumekuwa na kiongozi mwenye ushawishi mkubwa wa kisiasa kama Raila. Ni kifo cha huzuni. Niseme tu kwamba Jumapili iliyopita, saa kumi na mbili na dakika thelathini na mbili, niliongea na Raila Odinga kwa dakika saba. Nilimpigia simu kumuuliza hali yake na nikasikia mtu ambaye ni mcheshi tu, wa kawaida kabisa, akaanza kuniuliza mambo ya nchi,” Kaikai said.
The journalist went ahead to reveal that in their conversation, Raila had touched on the recent meeting between President William Ruto and KANU party leader Gideon Moi.
While commenting on Ruto’s reunion with Moi, Raila is said to have said that the broad-based government had now been expanded to accommodate everyone.
“Katika mazungumzo yetu alielezea ya kwamba amesoma magazeti akaniambia yale ambayo alikuwa ameyasoma. Pia kukakuwa na muda kidogo wa kicheko kwa sababu alisema kuwa broad-based imekuwa kubwa, na alikuwa anamaanisha mambo ya Gideon Moi na Rais Ruto kukutana. Sikudhania kuwa alikuwa hali mbaya kutokana na sauti yake,” Kaikai said.
Raila’s Death
Raila Odinga died on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in India, during a morning walk. Reports further indicate that Raila died from a heart attack at the age of 80.
According to http://mathrubhumi.com, an Indian outlet, Raila collapsed during a morning walk on Wednesday at 8:30 am within the premises of the Ayurvedic facility.
It was reported that CPR was administered by the medical team on-site. He was rushed to Devamatha Hospital in Koothattukulam, where he was pronounced dead around 9.52 am Indian Time.
The news on the passing of Raila comes days after his elder brother, Oburu Odinga, confirmed that he was indeed sick and that he had been admitted for treatment in India.
