Businessman Oketch Salah has publicly defended his claims about being present during the final moments of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, pushing back against strong criticism from East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Winnie Odinga.
In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday morning, Salah said he stood firmly by his remarks, insisting that his account of Raila Odinga’s last moments was truthful. He accompanied the post with a cordial photograph of himself and the late statesman.
While refraining from disclosing further details, Salah indicated that he would address the matter more fully in an upcoming interview.
“I watched last night’s interview on Citizen TV with Yvonne Okwara, where Winnie spoke about me. 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.
He added that clarification was necessary, reiterating his position. “Some things need clarity. 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’s response came hours after Winnie Odinga, speaking in a live interview on Citizen TV on Tuesday, categorically dismissed his earlier claims that he was with her father from the onset of his illness until his death, and that he was regarded as Odinga’s adopted son.
Winnie described Salah’s statements as false and dangerous, questioning his motives and calling for scrutiny of his conduct.
“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,” she said.
She further called for authorities to intervene, stating, “He should be rushed to either Mathare or the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) with immediate effect.”
The dispute also drew a brief response from Raila Odinga Jr, Winnie’s brother, who dismissed Salah’s claims in a short social media post, writing simply: “Nonsense.”
The exchange has continued to attract public attention, with calls from various quarters urging restraint and sensitivity in discussions surrounding the death of the former prime minister.
