Siaya Senator Dr Ng’onga Molo Oburu Oginga is Missing in Action Because of Age-induced Poor Health

Siaya Senator Dr Ng’onga Molo Oburu Oginga is missing in action because of age-induced poor health. The octogenarian has missed to attend several sessions in the Senate and is lately rarely seen at public functions.

In his last public outing in Bondo Constituency Dr. Oburu whose motor skills and mental coordination are still acutely intact at age 84 made known his preference of Ugunja MP James Opiyo Wandayi as heir-apparent to younger brother Raila Odinga at the helm of ODM Party. This comments came even as Raila’s spouse Dr. Ida Odinga had made known her preference of party chairman John Mbadi to take over party leadership.

The battle for party succession has now assumed new dimensions with Raila Odinga publicly blessing former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya and former Mombasa Governor Sultan Hassan Joho to gun for the same position.

While it is not good media practice to post unsavoury comments on the health of a public figure the case of Dr. Ng’onga Molo Oburu Oginga is a matter of public interest since his current health condition is an outright outcome of advanced age. In the run-up to the last General Elections Siaya County had several youthful candidates for position of Senator that were within a reasonable age-bracket but were overlooked by the electorate for yet-to-be-verified reasons.

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Oburu Oginga’s health has been a matter of concern since November 2022 when he was shortly hospitalised in India. Media reports indicated then that he had undergone a knee surgery.

“Kenyan hospitals overcharge people for treatment of even simple diseases, which is why many Kenyans come to India for treatment. It is not because Kenya could not treat my knee. It is because if I treated my knee in Kenya it would have cost me three times what it cost me in India,” the Senator is alluded to have said, then.

While expressing optimism about his journey to recovery, the first-term Senator affirmed that he will soon be bouncing back to his day-to-day activities once he returns to Kenya.

“I’m recovering from the treatment, I feel great, I am a golfer and I hope when I return back to my country Kenya, I will go back to the golf field and start again to kick the ball,” he added.

Treatment in India
Notable people such as Raila and his daughter Rosemary Odinga, and the late mama Lucy Kibaki among others have received medication in India.

Rosemary publicly disclosed that she had fully regained her eyesight after a successful surgery in the Asian country.

Rosemary, who developed an eyesight problem in 2019, was flown to India for a medical check-up in early February 2022.

The mother of two underwent a medical procedure at Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Center in Kerala, southwestern coast of India. The medical facility is known for using ancient medical treatment practices.

“Before coming to India for treatment, I was pretty much living in darkness. I was simply existing,” Rosemary told an Indian media outlet.

Rosemary had earlier received treatment in South Africa, Germany, Israel and China to no avail. She revealed that they resorted to India following a recommendation from one of her dad’s friends.

She further stated that she was now able to see clearly after the traditional treatment.

India is known for its specialized and effective treatment of diseases. Many Kenyans opt for the Asian country to cure illnesses such as cancer.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that 40,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed annually. Out of this, 10,000 patients seek treatment in India, spending nearly KES 10 billion.

And while this article is not about seeking medical treatment in India, it is a reminder that Dr. Ng’onga Molo Oburu Oginga is missing in action because of age-induced poor health.