Dennis Onyango breaks silence on Raila’s link to Oketch Salah
By David Nthua, February 18, 2026The late Raila Odinga’s aide, Dennis Onyango, said the former Prime Minister knew Oketch Salah well.
In an exclusive interview with a local TV station on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Onyango rubbished reports suggesting that Salah was a stranger to the Odinga inner circle.
Addressing speculation surrounding the relationship, Onyango stated that Salah was not just an acquaintance but a close associate.
“Everyone who worked with Raila knows Oketch Salah. He was Raila’s friend. The day Raila left for India and never to come back, we were with Oketch Salah in Karen, and I spoke to Raila using Salah’s phone,” Onyango revealed.
His remarks appear to settle the ongoing debate about whether Salah had direct access to Raila during his final days before travelling abroad.
Beyond the question of Salah’s connection, Onyango also addressed long-standing discussions about Raila Odinga’s political succession.
“Raila Odinga had no preferred successor; he left it open and hoped someone would emerge. But he believed in party institutions. He seemed to believe that a leader should emerge from the people,” Onyango said.
Dennis Onyango speaks of Raila’s successor
According to him, Raila trusted party structures and democratic processes rather than handpicking an individual to take over leadership.
Onyango’s comments provide rare insight into Raila’s private thinking and leadership philosophy, especially regarding internal party democracy and transition.
The revelations have since sparked fresh reactions online, with supporters revisiting memories of Raila’s final political moments and his approach to leadership.
While the discussion around succession continues in various quarters, Onyango’s account paints a picture of a leader who valued institutions and believed in organic leadership emergence rather than direct endorsement.
The interview is expected to fuel further conversations about Raila’s legacy and the individuals who were part of his close circle.