Raila Meets India Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi

ODM leader Raila Odinga on Sunday met India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

In a statement, Raila said India and Kenya share a fond bond as many Kenyans have for decades attended universities in the populous Asian nation.

“My hope is that we shall strengthen ties and learn more from each other in the years ahead," said Odinga.

On his part, Modi said he was “delighted to receive my friend H.E. Raila Amollo Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya.”

“I fondly recollect my past interactions with him in India and Kenya. India and Kenya enjoy strong bilateral relations and we welcome further strengthening of our ties,” Modi said through Twitter.

Odinga traveled to India last week for the treatment of his daughter Rosemary, who was admitted to Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Center in Koothattukulum in Kerala State, South India.

Rosemary became partially blind in 2017 after she was diagnosed with aneurysms and a brain tumor, which was later removed in China after initially seeking treatment in South Africa. 

Raila says the traditional treatment his daughter received at the Indian hospital brought her eyesight back.

"By using traditional medicines, my daughter finally has her eyesight back, and this gave us a lot of confidence", he told news agency ANI.

He also urged Modi to bring this treatment method (Ayurveda) to Africa, so it can help others as well. "I've discussed with PM Modi to bring this treatment method to Africa and use our indigenous plants for therapeutics", he said.

Raila noted that treatment at hospitals in Kenya, South Africa, Germany, Israel, and China failed to help in the restoration of Rosemary’s sight.