Oketch Salah reveals why he left Raila in India hours before death struck
Raila Odinga’s adopted son, Oketch Salah, has explained why he flew back to Kenya, leaving Raila in India hours before death struck.
In a statement released on Thursday, February 19, 2026, while responding to Raila’s Sister, Ruth Odinga, Salah gave his version of the truth, detailing his relationship with the family of the departed leader.
You might also like
According to Salah, he was in India with Raila in what turned out to be the former Prime Minister’s final days alive, but returned to Kenya hours before death struck.
Why Salah flew back to Kenya
Salah said that he returned to Kenya at the request of Raila himself to attend his son’s wedding that had been postponed.
He was to reunite with Raila in Dubai, but this never happened as the former Prime Minister died in India on October 15, 2025.
“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 his arrival from Kerala,” Salah stated.
Convincing Raila & paying for Ruth’s ticket
He also detailed that before leaving India, he convinced Raila to allow Ruth Odinga to fly to India, where the former Prime Minister was receiving treatment.
Salah detailed that he organised for the Kisumu Woman Representative to fly business class and join Raila.
“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,” Raila’s adopted son said.
Emotional and painful final moments with Raila
An emotional Salah added that he spent the final days with Raila, saying that they were very painful and deeply personal
“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. I speak today not out of anger but out of respect for Baba’s memory and for the truth,” Salah added.
The statement was in response to an interview with a local TV station in which Ruth Odinga told Salah to give the family space, clarifying that she barely knows the businessman, whom she has only met three times.
