NAIROBI, Kenya — Political commentator Oketch Salah has defended his public remarks about the final moments of the late opposition leader Raila Odinga, pushing back against accusations by East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Winnie Odinga that he fabricated his proximity to the former Prime Minister.
The standoff followed an interview aired on Citizen TV on Tuesday night, in which Winnie dismissed Salah’s earlier claims that he was among individuals present or closely involved during Raila’s last hours.
“A flat-out lie that you were there at the time of my father’s death and you were not, and talking about things that did not occur, is quite dangerous and makes me question his intentions,” Winnie said during the broadcast.
She further insisted that Salah was not part of Raila’s inner circle, describing his public statements as misleading and emotionally harmful to the family during a period of grief.
Salah responded several hours later with a written statement shared online, saying he had initially chosen silence out of respect for Raila’s widow, Mama Ida Odinga, but felt compelled to clarify his position following Winnie’s remarks on national television.
“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,” Salah said.
In a firm rebuttal, Salah stood by his account, insisting that his recollections were genuine and not intended to mislead the public.
“I stand by everything I said about my last moments with Baba. Those moments were real, painful and lived,” he stated, adding that he would give a fuller account in a forthcoming interview.
Salah did not provide further details of the interactions he claims to have had with Raila, but said he had no interest in engaging in emotional or confrontational exchanges during the mourning period.
“I have no interest in engaging in emotional exchanges during a time of mourning,” he added.
Winnie had earlier warned that unverified claims about Raila’s final moments risk causing unnecessary distress and confusion, suggesting that such statements should be subjected to scrutiny.
Her remarks drew mixed reactions online, with some Kenyans backing the Odinga family’s call for restraint and accuracy, while others argued that Salah deserved a platform to explain his claims fully.
Raila Odinga, one of Kenya’s most influential political figures, was surrounded by a wide network of allies, supporters, and associates over decades of public life, many of whom have shared personal reflections since his death.
