Oketch Salah responds to Winnie claims on his relationship with Raila

Oketch Salah in Kakamega during ODM county tours.

Businessman and political figure Oketch Salah on Friday, responded to remarks made by Winnie Odinga, where she dismissed his claims about his closeness to the Odinga family.

According to Salah, his relationship with Raila Odinga was based on mentorship and political guidance rather than blood ties. He said that he takes Winnie as his younger sister and has no issues with her.

"In matters concerning Winnie, she is my younger sister and I have no problems with her. We are one family as Kenyans," he said.

Salah maintained that Raila had treated him like a son and trusted him with personal responsibilities, including representing him at family functions.

“He once gave me his speech to go and read at Otieno Dalmas’ funeral, but I asked him as who. He told me, you go there as my adopted son,” he said.

The fallout began after Salah publicly spoke about his relationship with the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying that he was also with him before he died. Salah described him as a mentor and political father and recounted his alleged presence during key moments of Raila’s final days.

His statements attracted public attention to who he was, prompting Winnie Odinga to address the issue.

During an interview with Citizen TV, Winnie refuted Salah’s narrative, saying that his claims were inaccurate and misleading. She said the family did not recognise him as someone close to Raila. “I’ve met him, but I’d like to believe that nobody really knows him,” she said.

Winnie Odinga, East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP./TIMON OTIENO

Winnie suggested that his public accounts were inappropriate given the sensitivity surrounding her father’s passing. In a remark that sparked widespread debate online, Winnie implied that Salah’s behavior was irrational.

“A flat-out lie that you were there at the time of my father’s death, and you were not, talking about things that did not occur is quite dangerous and makes me question his intentions,” she added.

Her comments triggered mixed reactions across social media, with some Kenyans defending the Odinga family’s position while others accused Winnie of publicly humiliating Salah.

Salah replied, saying his intention in speaking about Raila was not to seek attention but to share his lived experiences and honour the former prime minister’s legacy.

He further explained that he initially remained silent out of respect for Raila’s widow, Ida Odinga, but felt compelled to respond after the Citizen TV interview brought his character into question.

The public exchange has drawn national attention, highlighting the sensitivities surrounding the Odinga family and the challenges of personal narratives emerging during mourning periods.