By Bonface Mulyungi
Siaya Governor James Orengo has said that he does not know the nature of the relationship businessman Oketch Salah claimed to have with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
This comes months after public discussion online over Salah’s association with Raila and the authenticity of claims made about the late opposition leader’s private life and final days.
Speaking on Wednesday at Citizen TV, Orengo said he had encountered the businessman both in Kenya and abroad but could not confirm any close ties between him and the former Prime Minister.“I’ve ran into him in India, I’ve ran into him here in Kenya but I don’t know who he was to Raila,” Orengo said.
Salah, a businessman who frequently shared photos of himself with Raila on social media, had publicly portrayed himself as being close to the ODM leader.
He also claimed that he was present during Raila’s last moments, remarks that have since sparked sharp reactions from members of the Odinga family.
The controversy intensified after EALA MP Winnie Odinga publicly dismissed Salah’s assertions, terming them false and misleading.
She clarified that although she had met Salah before, he was neither a confidant nor part of Raila’s inner circle.“A flat-out lie that you were there at the time of my father’s death and you were not, and talking about things that did not occur is quite dangerous and makes me question his intentions,” Winnie said.
“I have met him before, yes, but nobody really knows him.”Winnie criticised what she described as fabricated claims surrounding her father’s final moments, saying such statements were hurtful to the family during a difficult grieving period.
She called for investigations into individuals spreading unverified information, arguing that the claims were causing unnecessary distress.“Such fabrications should be investigated because they cause unnecessary distress,” she said.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) distanced itself from activities and statements associated with Salah, saying any engagements undertaken by him are strictly in his personal capacity and do not represent or bind the party.In a statement issued in February, the party’s national chairperson, Gladys Wanga, said ODM had found it necessary to clarify its position following actions and engagements linked to Salah that had been associated with the party in public discourse.
The party emphasised that it had not sanctioned any such activities and that Salah does not speak or act on behalf of ODM.”The Orange Democratic Movement wishes to clarify that any activities, statements, or engagements undertaken by Oketch Salah are carried out strictly in his personal capacity and do not represent or bind the Orange Democratic Movement in any way,” the statement read.
