Oketch Salah, who identifies as the adopted son of the late Raila Odinga, has publicly addressed recent comments made by Winnie Odinga, a Member of Parliament for the East African Legislative Assembly, during a televised interview.
In a statement posted on his social media accounts on January 28, 2025, Salah expressed his deep respect for Ida Odinga, the widow of the late prime minister and the newly appointed Kenyan ambassador to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). He emphasized that, out of this respect, he has chosen not to respond to Winnie Odinga’s remarks at this time.
“I viewed the interview on Citizen TV with Ivonne Okwara, where Winnie discussed me. Out of respect for Her Excellency, Mama Ida Min Piny from Migori, I have opted to remain silent. This decision was both deliberate and personal,” he stated.
However, Salah indicated that certain statements made by Winnie during the interview require clarification. He committed to sharing his perspective in an upcoming interview, asserting that he will uphold the authenticity of his experiences with the late Raila Odinga, which he described as both painful and real.
“While I have chosen to remain silent, some assertions warrant clarification. I stand firmly by my account of my final moments with Baba. Those experiences were genuine and deeply felt. I will provide my response in an interview soon,” he affirmed.
Winnie Odinga recently launched a strong critique of Salah, questioning his claims of being a close confidant of her late father. She acknowledged having met him but insisted that few truly know him.
She expressed her discontent regarding Salah’s assertions about being present during Raila Odinga’s final moments, declaring such claims untrue, as she was by her father’s side. Winnie characterized Salah’s statements as potentially harmful and called into question his motivations, suggesting that he should seek professional help.
“I have met Oketch Salah, but I believe few truly know him. It is a blatant falsehood to claim you were present at my father’s passing—you were not. Speaking of events that did not transpire is perilous and raises concerns about his intentions. He should urgently consider seeking assistance, whether at Mathare or the Director of Criminal Investigation offices along Kiambu Road,” she remarked.
In a show of solidarity, Raila Odinga Jr. has aligned himself with his sister, dismissing Oketch Salah’s response as nonsensical.
