Raila’s Last Days: Oketch Salah Speaks
Oketch Salah, often referred to as an adopted son of the seasoned opposition leader Raila Odinga, has finally spoken out in response to online accusations questioning his presence and role during Odinga’s final illness. He firmly stated that he was by the former Prime Minister’s side until the very end.
In his statement, Salah emphasized that he was with Odinga from the moment he first fell ill right up until his last moments, pushing back against claims that he might be overstating his closeness to the family patriarch for sympathy or political gain.
“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,” Salah said.
He recounted moments where he felt he was right there for Odinga, enduring intense pain alongside him. At times, it was just the two of them and a single security officer, who he made sure to clarify was not Maurice Ogeta, a name that has been tossed around a lot in social media chatter.
“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. For the record, that security officer was not Maurice Ogeta,”he said.
Salah shared that during his illness, he and Odinga engaged in deep private conversations about both personal and political issues. However, he emphasized that he wouldn’t reveal the details out of respect for Odinga and his family.
“Silence should never be mistaken for fear or falsehood,” he remarked.
In response to allegations that he tried to marginalize Odinga’s immediate family, Salah strongly denied any claims of disrespect towards Mama Ida Odinga or any of the former Prime Minister’s 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,” he said.
Salah expressed that he welcomes public scrutiny and is more than willing to be interviewed on any credible platform, emphasizing that he has nothing to hide.
“I am not afraid of scrutiny. I am ready and willing to be interviewed publicly on these matters at any time, on any credible platform. Truth does not fear examination,”he noted.
He cautioned against what he called efforts to make him a scapegoat in the ongoing political and personal conflicts within Odinga’s broader circle.
“What I will not accept is being turned into a convenient villain so others can fight internal battles or rewrite lived history,” he said.
He emphasized that his presence around Odinga wasn’t something forced upon him; it was actually welcomed by the former Prime Minister himself. Salah called for restraint and dignity when dealing with the issues surrounding Odinga’s illness and passing, stressing that grief shouldn’t be turned into a tool for political or social media conflicts.
“Some things are not for noise, timelines or propaganda. Pain deserves dignity, not spectacle,” he said.
Salah expressed that his actions were driven by the trust Odinga had in him, and he emphasized that he wouldn’t get caught up in what he called manufactured outrage or political theatrics.
“I know where I stood. I know what I did. And I know what Baba entrusted me with,” he said.
Just a few days ago, Odinga’s daughter, Winnie, pointed out that not everyone in the ODM party who claims to support Raila is being completely honest.
“We see that not everyone among us who believed in Baba was true. Some were just using him,” she said.
She also assured the public that the Odinga family remains neutral in party factional battles.
“As a family, we are not in either faction. We are Team Baba,” she said.
She also dismissed claims by some leaders that they were acting on instructions left by Raila.
“Those who are saying Baba said this or that are not well mannered,” Winnie said, calling on party members to be patient ahead of the National Delegates Congress (NDC), which she predicted would be fiery.
“We want to go to the NDC and there, things will be hot,” she said.
Winnie was quite clear in her stance; she firmly opposed the notion of pushing away anyone who held differing opinions within the party.
Raila’s Last Days: Oketch Salah Speaks
