I will not allow the truth to be erased! Oketch Salah fires back at Ruth Odinga

Businessman Oketch Salah/FILE

Businessman Oketch Salah has issued a detailed response to Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, following her remarks disowning him and distancing both the Odinga family and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) from his political activities.

In a statement released on Thursday, Salah described Ruth’s claims as “not accurate” and defended his personal and political connections with the late Baba Raila Odinga.

“It is unfortunate that you chose to go before a major media house and make statements that are not accurate,” Salah said.

“Let me be clear from the outset: if you do not wish to associate with me, that is entirely your choice. I have never forced myself into your life and I have never sought your attention. My relationship was with your late brother, Baba and that relationship stood on its own. It had nothing to do with any other member of the family.”

Salah also disputed suggestions that he had leveraged personal ties for political gain. He said he was instrumental in facilitating Ruth Odinga’s travel to India.

“For the record, I am the one who convinced Baba to have you join us in India, after Jeff Oyier called him several times, saying that you wanted to come. I am also the one who arranged your business class ticket on Emirates,” he stated.

He explained that his return to Kenya from India was dictated by personal commitments, specifically to conclude his son’s postponed wedding.

“The only reason I returned earlier was because Baba personally asked me to go back to Kenya to conclude my son's wedding, which had been postponed several times due to his health. I was supposed to meet Baba again in Dubai on Thursday, after he arrived from Kerala,” Salah said.

Salah described himself as self-sufficient and independent, asserting that his work for ODM was done at Baba’s request and not personal ambition.

“I come from a well-established business family. I am self-sufficient, and you know this. Whatever I have done for ODM was not driven by personal interest; it was done at Baba's request,” he said.

He also reaffirmed the late Odinga’s vision for the party. “ODM does not belong to you, or to me, or to any one family. If it does, then let that be stated openly, and I will step away without hesitation. Baba spent more than 20 years building ODM into a national party. It belongs to the people of Kenya, from every part of this country,” Salah said.

Salah further warned Ruth against undermining the current party leadership. “I also say this with respect: you should stop fighting your elder brother, who is the current party leader. Oburu Odinga did not simply assume a position; he carries a responsibility, and Baba entrusted me, in good faith, to work with him. If you allow your elder brother to be put on the chopping board today, do not be surprised if tomorrow it is your turn,” he added.

Addressing questions around his statements on Baba Odinga’s political intentions, Salah said he would not retract his words.

“The only times you and I have ever spoken or met are the times you reached out to me. Regarding what I have said about Baba's views on the broad-based government and support for His Excellency President William Samoei Ruto's second term, I will not retract my words. Baba was clear to me that he intended to endorse President Ruto for a second term. I am duty-bound to speak honestly about what he told me, without fear, without distortion and without seeking permission from anyone,” he said.

Salah also recounted his presence during Baba Odinga’s final moments, describing them as deeply personal and painful.

“Finally, I say this with a heavy heart: I am the one who spent most of Baba's final moments with him. Those moments were real, painful and deeply personal. I will not allow that truth to be erased or turned into political theatre,” he said.

Ruth Odinga, in a televised interview on Wednesday, had earlier asserted that Salah has no position within ODM. She dismissed claims that he was close to the Odinga family, stating, “I really don’t know him that well, but I am surprised he is one of the people who speaks and says that he knows me. In my whole life, I have met Salah three times.”

She urged him to respect the family’s privacy, saying, “If he were my brother’s friend or adopted son, as he claims, I would like to ask him to please give us space as a family to be a family.”

In his response, Salah framed his statement as one of respect for Baba Odinga’s memory, emphasising the personal and factual nature of his account. “I speak today not out of anger but out of respect for Baba's memory and for the truth,” he concluded.