When rumours about Raila’s health began to circulate online last week, they didn’t just ignite curiosity; they reopened old wounds in Kenya’s polarized political terrain. What might have been a private matter quickly turned into public ammunition, exposing the ugly side of political opportunism that thrives on speculation and fear.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Raila’s long-standing political vehicle, fired the first shot, accusing a rival faction led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and DAP-K’s Eugene Wamalwa of orchestrating a misinformation campaign to tarnish the veteran politician’s image.
In its October 5, 2025 statement, ODM leaders, led by Homabay governor Gladys Wanga, alleged that the three united opposition bigwigs had spread false claims suggesting that Odinga had been flown to Europe for medical treatment. The party dismissed the reports as baseless and malicious, but the rebuttal itself only fanned the flames.
A day later, Gachagua took to a public rally in Ukambani, using humour and mockery to hit back.
“Nimeona jana watu ya ODM wakileta upuuzi. Ati huyo mzee wao ako na matatizo. Sasa wanataka kuekelea Kalonzo na mimi. Kalonzo ni virus, mimi ni bacteria, sasa mambo ya ugonjwa na Kalonzo anatokea wapi?” he posed, drawing laughter from his audience.
The former Deputy President went on to wish Raila good health, insisting that he wanted the Azimio leader “strong enough” to face him and President William Ruto in the 2027 elections.
“Sisi tunatakia huyo mzee mema. Tunataka wakuwe pamoja na Ruto kwa debe 2027 tuwafukuze wote,” he added.
A War of Words and Wounds
If ODM thought its statement would silence detractors, the response from the Wiper Party made clear that the battle had only just begun.
In a fiery statement, Wiper accused ODM of hypocrisy, calling its outburst “political theatre” and “an act of desperation from a once respected movement that has lost its moral compass.”
The party defended Kalonzo Musyoka, saying he held no ill will toward Raila and that the two had “a long public history of mutual respect.” Any suggestion to the contrary, the party said, was “malicious, reckless, and utterly false.”
Observers note that this isn’t the first time a political figure’s health has been weaponized in Kenya’s political scene. From former presidents to opposition stalwarts, illness has too often been turned to earn cheap political “bonga points” — used not for empathy, but for leverage.
In this latest episode, what’s striking is how quickly a rumour became a rallying point for competing narratives: ODM portraying itself as the victim of smear politics, while Gachagua and Kalonzo paint it as insecure and intolerant of scrutiny.
The Human Cost of Political Insensitivity
Behinds the noise lies a sonbering truth — that Kenya’s political class has yet to draw the line between leadership and humanity. Whether Raila Odinga is unwell or not should be a matter of privacy, not propaganda. Yet, in the charged atmosphere of succession politics, even a whisper about his health becomes a weapon, sharpened and thrown for political gain.
As one political analyst put it, “In Kenya, power has become so personal that even sickness is politicized. The health of a leader is no longer a family issue — it’s a political statement.”
As the country edges closer to the 2027 elections, the Raila health controversy may soon fade. But the culture it reveals — of exploiting vulnerability for applause — remains a troubling stain on Kenya’s political conscience.
