Oketch Salah has publicly pushed back against remarks made by Winnie Odinga regarding the final moments of the late Raila Odinga, reigniting a sensitive public debate around the patriarch’s last days.
Salah, writing on X (formerly Twitter), said he chose silence out of respect for Ida Odinga, whom he referred to as “Her Excellency the Ambassador, Mama Ida Min Piny from Migori.”
However, he noted that recent comments made by Winnie Odinga during a recent interview compelled him to set the record straight.
“I watched last night’s interview on Citizen TV with Ivonne 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. However, some things need clarity,” Salah wrote.
Salah firmly defended his earlier statements, insisting that his account of Raila Odinga’s final moments was neither exaggerated nor driven by personal gain.
“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,” he added.
Winnie Odinga Disputes Salah’s Account
During the televised interview, Winnie Odinga questioned the accuracy of Salah’s claims, stressing the need for truth and sensitivity when discussing her father’s passing.
“This is not accurate. Claims about Baba’s final moments should reflect the truth, and unfortunately, that account does not,” Winnie said.
Her remarks underscored the deeply personal and emotional nature of the subject, prompting mixed reactions across political and social circles.
Salah Maintains He Was Present Until the End
Salah has previously stated that he was with Raila Odinga from the onset of his illness until his final moments, dismissing accusations that he was leveraging the tragedy for sympathy or political relevance.
“I was with Baba Raila Odinga from the time he first fell ill until his final moments on earth. That is a fact. I do not say this for sympathy, relevance or political mileage; I say it because it is the truth,” Salah said.
As public interest grows, Salah has indicated that he will address the matter more comprehensively in an upcoming interview, a move likely to keep the conversation firmly in the national spotlight.
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