Mystery Businessman Sparks Family Feud Over Raila Odinga's Final Days

2026-01-29 region

Nairobi, 29 January 2026
A previously unknown figure named Oketch Salah has ignited a public dispute with Raila Odinga’s daughter after claiming intimate access to the former Prime Minister’s deathbed. Winnie Odinga directly challenged Salah’s account on national television, stating ‘nobody really knows him’ and calling his presence during her father’s final moments ‘a flat-out lie’. The businessman from Migori, whose social media account appeared just a month before Odinga’s death in October 2025, maintains he was present throughout the leader’s illness and final hours.

From Obscurity to Controversy

The controversy intensified on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, when Winnie Odinga appeared on Citizen TV to directly challenge Salah’s narrative [1][4]. The EALA MP stated unequivocally: ‘I have met Oketch Salah, but I’d like to believe nobody really knows him’ [4]. Her most damning accusation centred on Salah’s claims of being present at her father’s death, which she described as ‘a flat-out lie’ [4][6]. Winnie Odinga went further, suggesting that Salah ‘should be rushed to either Mathare or DCI with immediate effect’ [4][6], referencing Kenya’s main psychiatric hospital and criminal investigation unit.

The Migori Connection

Born and raised in Migori County, Salah’s background reveals a businessman of Luo descent whose father, Abdi Salah, was also involved in business [4]. His emergence in Kenyan politics followed a calculated pattern, with his social media presence appearing precisely one month before Raila Odinga’s death in October 2025 [1]. At a public rally, Raila Odinga himself had introduced Salah as a ‘politically begotten son’ [1]. During that event, Salah addressed the crowd in Dholuo, stating: ‘I greet you all, receive my condolences. I come from Migori… when Baba and I heard this news, we were greatly disturbed’ [1]. He punctuated his speech by donating one million Kenyan shillings to the gathering [1].

Claims of Intimate Access

Salah’s most controversial assertions centre on his alleged close relationship with the former Prime Minister during his final illness. He claims to have been ‘with Baba Raila Odinga from the time he first fell ill until his final moments on earth’ [1][7]. In his defence against Winnie Odinga’s accusations, Salah described intimate scenes of caregiving: ‘Moments when it was only me and one security guard present, holding Baba, trying to steady him, trying to help him through the pain’ [7]. He insisted these were not fabricated stories but ‘lived experience’ [7]. Additionally, Salah alleged that on Thursday, 24 December 2025, Raila Odinga had warned him about ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, telling him to ‘forget about Sifuna’ and describing the party official as potentially ‘someone’s mole’ [1].

Political Networking and Family Response

Since Odinga’s death, Salah has been actively meeting with prominent political figures, particularly those from Somali jurisdictions [1]. In the month leading up to 28 January 2026, his engagements included meetings with President Said Abdullahi Deni of Puntland, former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor, Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, and musician Prince Indah [1]. His family connections also drew attention when his son, Abdinoor Oketch, married Isra Ibrahim Hamza on 25 October 2025 at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi, with Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga and Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi in attendance [4]. The family dispute escalated when Raila Junior responded to Salah’s social media posts with a dismissive ‘nonsense’ [1]. Salah has promised to provide clarification in a future interview, though no date has been confirmed [4][7].

Bronnen

Raila Odinga political succession