NAIROBI, Kenya – Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo has offered advice to businessman Oketch Salah following a heated public dispute between him and East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Winnie Odinga over claims surrounding the late Raila Odinga’s final moments.
The intervention comes amid growing online debate after Winnie, Raila’s daughter, publicly dismissed Salah’s assertions that he was among those close to the former Prime Minister during his last hours.
In a strongly worded statement shared on social media, Millie questioned the political and personal implications of Salah’s claims, urging him to tread carefully in a sensitive moment for the Odinga family and the country.
“Assuming it is true that Salah was very close to our departed leader Raila, what next?” Millie posed. “Will it have an impact on political alignments? Will it change anything about CBC or SHA? Will it cause Baba to come back?”
Millie advised Salah to quietly build alliances only with those willing to associate with him and to respect those who choose not to.
She warned against forcing narratives that could deepen divisions or inflame public emotions during a period of national mourning.
“If I were him, I would quietly pick those in the family who wish to continue associating and forge alliances. I would let those who do not want to associate, be,” she said.
Interview sparks fallout
The controversy was triggered by an interview aired on Citizen TV on Tuesday night, during which Winnie Odinga flatly rejected Salah’s earlier claims that he had spent significant time with Raila shortly before his death.
“A flat-out lie that you were there at the time of my father’s death and talking about things that did not occur is quite dangerous and makes me question his intentions,” Winnie said.
She acknowledged having met Salah before but insisted he was neither part of Raila’s inner circle nor a confidant during his final days.
“Nobody really knows him,” she added, describing his remarks as misleading and distressing to the family.
Winnie went further to suggest that individuals spreading unverified claims about Raila’s last moments should be investigated, arguing that such statements cause unnecessary pain during a time of grief.
Salah stands his ground
Salah responded hours later with a written statement shared online, saying he had deliberately stayed silent out of respect for Raila’s widow, Mama Ida Odinga.
“Because of the respect I have for Her Excellency the Ambassador, Mama Ida Min Piny from Migori, I chose to remain quiet. That was a deliberate decision,” he said.
However, he maintained that his account was truthful, insisting he stood by his earlier remarks.
“I stand by everything I said about my last moments with Baba. Those moments were real, painful and lived. I will respond in an interview soon,” Salah stated, adding that he had no interest in engaging in emotional exchanges during mourning.
Public debate intensifies
The standoff has ignited intense reactions across social media, with Kenyans divided over the credibility of Salah’s claims and the appropriateness of airing such disputes publicly.
While some argue that accurate accounts of Raila’s final moments matter for the historical record, others have urged restraint, stressing respect for the Odinga family as the nation continues to mourn.
Raila Odinga, a towering figure in Kenya’s political history, passed away on October 15, 2025, while receiving treatment in India.
Since his death, allies, supporters and associates have shared personal reflections, underscoring his wide political and social reach.
