Winnie Odinga, Oketch Salah Clash Over Raila’s Last Moments

Conflicting public accounts by EALA MP Winnie Odinga and businessman Oketch Salah over the late Raila Odinga’s final moments have ignited a tense public exchange, reopening a sensitive debate as the country continues to mourn one of its most consequential political figures.

The clash unfolded after a Citizen TV interview aired on Tuesday night in which Winnie forcefully dismissed Salah’s claims that he was among those closest to Raila in his last hours. Winnie described the assertions as false and dangerous, saying they misrepresented events surrounding her father’s death and raised serious questions about motive.

She told the programme that Salah was neither part of Raila’s inner circle nor present at the time of his passing, adding that while she had met him before, he was not someone known to the family. Winnie said the circulation of unverified accounts at such a moment caused unnecessary pain and confusion, arguing that claims about Raila’s final moments should not be treated casually.

Winnie went further to suggest that individuals spreading what she termed fabrications should be scrutinised by relevant authorities, warning that public speculation during a period of mourning risked distressing the family and misleading the public.

Salah had earlier shared emotional recollections of Raila, portraying himself as someone who spent meaningful time with the former Prime Minister shortly before his death. His remarks attracted sympathy online but also scepticism, particularly after Winnie’s rebuttal on national television.

Several hours after the interview, Salah issued a written response online, saying he had deliberately chosen silence out of respect for Raila’s widow, Mama Ida Odinga. He said his restraint should not be mistaken for retreat, adding that he stood by his account of his last moments with Raila.

Salah maintained that his experiences were real and painful, but declined to offer further details, saying he would address the matter in an interview at a later date. He also said he had no interest in engaging in emotional exchanges during a period of national mourning.

Oketch Salah while accompanying late former prime minister Raila Odinga in India.

The standoff quickly spilled onto social media, with Kenyans sharply divided. Some rallied behind Winnie, arguing that no one should appropriate a family’s grief or insert themselves into a deeply private moment for public attention. Others called for clarity, insisting that truthful accounts of Raila’s final days mattered for the historical record of a man who shaped the country’s politics for decades.

Winnie has consistently drawn a firm line between public legacy and private grief. In the same Citizen TV interview, she revealed that she spent two hours with her father the night before he died but said those conversations were deeply personal and not meant for public consumption. She cautioned against speculation, saying it was disrespectful for anyone to attribute words or intentions to Raila without certainty.

She reflected on her long and complex relationship with her father, describing him as not only a parent but also her party leader, mentor and closest friend. Winnie said coping with his absence had been difficult, but added that the family had drawn closer as they adjusted to life without him.

Raila Odinga died on October 15, 2025, aged 80, while undergoing treatment at a hospital in India. He was laid to rest four days later at his family home in Bondo, Siaya County, in a ceremony attended by local and international leaders and marked by full military honours following a presidential proclamation.

As tributes continue to pour in and personal stories emerge, the dispute between Winnie and Salah underscores the sensitivity surrounding Raila’s final moments and the tension between public memory and private loss. For the Odinga family, the message has been clear: some truths, especially in grief, are not for public contest.