Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga has undergone minor surgery at a hospital in the capital to relieve pressure built up around his brain.

His office had earlier said he had been admitted to the hospital evening after he felt generally exhausted, and that doctors had prescribed complete bed rest.

Doctors said he was also complaining of headache and he told them he had hit himself against a car door a few weeks ago. "Following examination and initial investigations, he was found to have a buildup of pressure outside the brain, leading to the headache," said a statement signed by the chief executive of The Nairobi Hospital, Dr. Cleopa Mailu.

"It was necessary to carry out a minor procedure on the left side of the head to relieve the pressure. The procedure has been carried out successfully and the prime minister is doing fine," the hospital said in the statement.

On top of day-to-day work in his office, Odinga has travelled to Britain, France, South Africa and Egypt in recent weeks while also traversing Kenya, campaigning for the adoption of a proposed new constitution.

source: Reuters