Maurice Ogeto, the longtime personal aide and bodyguard of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has made fresh claims about who was present when the veteran politician died in India.

Ogeto, who served Raila for 29 years, says he and Dr Olunya were the only people around when the former Prime Minister died on October 15, 2025.

“By the time Baba died, it was only Dr. Olunya and myself who were around,” Ogeto said.

He also disputed claims that Raila’s daughters, Ruth and Winnie Odinga, were present when their father died.

“Let no one cheat you that Raila Odinga died in their arms; even Ruth and Winnie were not around,” he stated.

Ogeto added that he informed the family about the death later, after first discussing the matter with Dr Olunya.

“I informed them much later, after I had discussed it with Dr. Olunya,” he said.

Maurice Ogeto’s 29-Year Relationship With Raila Odinga

Ogeto was among the people who worked closely with Raila throughout his political career, serving as his personal aide and bodyguard for nearly three decades.

His long association with the former Prime Minister places him among the individuals with firsthand experience of Raila’s private and public life.

In an interview published by Daily Nation on October 11, 2026, Ogeto recalled Raila’s final morning in India, describing how they went for their usual walk before the former Prime Minister suddenly appeared to lose control of his body.

Ogeto said he tried to support Raila and called for help before medical personnel arrived.

His recollections provide insight into the events surrounding Raila’s final hours, although each claim about who was present at the time of death must be considered in its specific context.

What Winnie Odinga Said About Her Father’s Final Moments

Ogeto’s remarks differ from a public account given by Winnie Odinga during Raila’s state funeral at Nyayo National Stadium on October 17, 2025.

During her tribute, Winnie said she had been with her father in India when he took his last breath.

“I was with him in India when he took his last breath. He died in my arms,” Winnie said.

She made the statement while addressing speculation circulating on social media about the circumstances surrounding her father’s death.

The two accounts have prompted renewed interest in the sequence of events during Raila’s final moments. However, Ogeto’s remarks and Winnie’s statement need to be assessed in their full context before drawing conclusions about any apparent contradiction.

How Raila Odinga Died

Raila died aged 80 on October 15, 2025, while receiving medical attention in India. His death brought an end to a political career spanning decades, during which he served as Kenya’s Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013 and became one of the country’s most influential political figures.

His death triggered widespread mourning in Kenya and across the region, with leaders and supporters paying tribute to his contribution to the country’s political history.

Ogeto’s latest remarks add to the public record of recollections about Raila’s final hours. However, the claims about who was present when he died have not been independently verified by The Daily Whistle.

The precise timing of the events described by Ogeto is important in understanding his account alongside statements previously made by members of Raila’s family.