Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - Oketch Salah has come out strongly to defend himself against mounting criticism and speculation over his closeness to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Oketch, who claims to be Raila’s adopted son, insists that he
was present throughout the former Prime Minister’s illness until his final
moments.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, January 20th,
Salah said his account was not meant to seek sympathy or political mileage but
to set the record straight.
"I am the one being accused, so I will respond directly
and calmly. I was with Baba Raila Odinga from the time he first fell ill until
his final moments on earth.”
“That is a fact. I do not say this for sympathy, relevance or
political mileage; I say it because it is the truth," he said.
He described the emotional toll of witnessing Raila’s
suffering, recalling moments when only minimal support was available.
"I was with Baba throughout his pain. I know what it
felt like. There were moments I genuinely thought I was losing him. Moments
when it was only me and one security guard present, holding Baba, trying to
steady him, trying to help him through the pain.”
“This is not a story. This is lived experience," he
added.
Salah further revealed that he and Raila held extensive
private conversations during that period, though he emphasized that his silence
on the details was out of respect for Raila and his family.
"During that period, Baba and I had extensive
conversations; personal, political and strategic, many of which he chose to
have with me privately.”
“Out of respect for him and his family, I will not disclose
those discussions.”
“Silence should never be mistaken for fear or
falsehood," he continued.
He dismissed allegations of disrespect towards Raila’s
family, denying any attempt to replace or undermine Mama Ida Odinga and their
children.
"I have never claimed to replace Baba’s family nor have
I ever disrespected Mama Ida or his children. Any suggestion that I insulted,
sidelined or spoke ill of them is false and malicious. I reject it
completely," he further said.
Salah declared that he was unafraid of scrutiny and open to
questioning on credible platforms, warning against attempts to cast him as a
scapegoat in internal political struggles.
“What I will not accept is being turned into a convenient
villain so others can fight internal battles or rewrite lived history.”
“I did not force myself into anyone’s life. I was present
because Baba allowed me to be present - consistently and knowingly," he
noted.
His remarks come weeks after Kisumu Woman Representative,
Ruth Odinga, rejected Salah’s earlier claims that Raila privately warned him
about Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna being a mole within ODM.
Ruth insisted that Raila was open and direct in his
communication, stressing that no one should claim to have held exclusive
private conversations with him.
The exchange underscores the ongoing tensions within ODM as
figures close to Raila continue to contest narratives about his final days.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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