Raila's bodyguard recounts final moments during India walk

Raila Odinga’s longtime bodyguard Maurice Ogeta said the late ODM leader did not collapse during his last walk in India. [Courtesy]

The emotional testimony by Raila Odinga’s longtime bodyguard, Maurice Ogeta, has renewed public interest in the veteran politician’s final moments, offering one of the most detailed eyewitness accounts from a person who was with him during his final morning in India

Speaking for the first time during a memorial service when Gor Mahia paid tribute at Raila’s home following their recent victory, Ogeta said Raila was undergoing routine treatment while maintaining light morning exercises at the villa where he was staying.

According to Ogeta, the two had planned to complete five laps around the compound. However, after completing one full lap and part of a second, Raila suddenly stopped. “My boss just stopped,” Ogeta recalled.

He stressed that, contrary to public belief, Raila did not collapse.

“Most people say he fell down or collapsed. He did not collapse,” he said.

Instead, Raila reportedly halted and appeared unable to continue walking. When Ogeta asked whether he needed assistance, Raila uttered only one word. “The only word he said was ‘aai’ and that was it,” Ogeta recounted.

The account has drawn attention because it differs from widely circulated social media claims that emerged immediately after Raila’s death. Several videos shared on Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp and X appeared to show him collapsing during a walk in hospital grounds in India.

The clips spread rapidly and were presented by some users as his final moments. However, fact-checkers later dismissed most of the material as misleading, noting that some footage was old, unrelated or unverified.

Authorities have not linked any of the viral clips to confirmed medical reports.

Official accounts indicate that Raila suffered a cardiac arrest while receiving treatment in India. He is said to have fallen ill during a morning walk before being rushed for emergency care.

Ogeta’s testimony does not contradict the medical explanation. Instead, it adds a human account of the moments leading up to the incident, offering context from someone physically present.

His closeness to Raila also adds weight to the account. During his remarks, Ogeta described the former Prime Minister as more than an employer. “He was my dad, my friend, my everything,” he said.

As a longtime member of Raila’s security detail, Ogeta accompanied him on official duties, private trips and daily routines for years, giving him rare access during his final days.

He admitted that speaking about the incident was emotionally difficult and said the memories remain painful.

Perhaps the most striking line from his testimony was his claim that Raila “died walking, not in bed.”

The statement has resonated with supporters, portraying a leader who remained active despite illness and challenging earlier narratives shaped by viral online content.