“I Will Not Let the Truth Be Erased!” – Oketch Salah Responds to Ruth Odinga

A side by side image of Kisumu Women Rep and Businessman Oketch Salah

Businessman Oketch Salah has issued a detailed response to Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, following her remarks disowning him and distancing both the Odinga family and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) from his political engagements.

In a statement released on Thursday, Salah described Ruth’s claims as “not accurate” and defended his longstanding relationship with her late brother, Raila Odinga.

“It is unfortunate that you chose to go before a major media house and make statements that are not accurate,” Salah said.

“Let me be clear: if you do not wish to associate with me, that is entirely your choice. My relationship was with your late brother, Baba, and it stood on its own. It had nothing to do with any other member of the family.”

Salah also disputed claims that he leveraged personal ties for political gain, noting that he was instrumental in facilitating Ruth Odinga’s travel to India.

“For the record, I convinced Baba to have you join us in India, after Jeff Oyier called him several times. I also arranged your business-class ticket on Emirates,” he said.

He explained that his early return to Kenya was due to personal commitments, specifically to conclude his son’s postponed wedding.

“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 to meet Baba again in Dubai on Thursday,” he added.

Describing himself as self-sufficient, Salah emphasised that his work for ODM was done at Baba Odinga’s request, not personal ambition. “I come from a well-established business family. Whatever I have done for ODM was not driven by personal interest; it was done at Baba's request,” he said.

Salah also reiterated the late Odinga’s vision for the party. “ODM does not belong to you, me, or any one family. If it does, let that be stated openly, and I will step away. Baba spent more than 20 years building ODM into a national party.

It belongs to the people of Kenya,” he said.

He warned Ruth Odinga against undermining the current party leadership, saying: “You should stop fighting your elder brother, who is the current party leader. Oburu Odinga carries a responsibility, and Baba entrusted me, in good faith, to work with him. If you allow him to be undermined today, do not be surprised if tomorrow it is your turn.”

Addressing claims about Baba Odinga’s political intentions, Salah refused to retract his statements. “Regarding what I have said about Baba's views on the broad-based government and support for President William Ruto's second term, I will not retract my words. Baba was clear to me about his intentions, and I am duty-bound to speak honestly,” he said.

Salah also recounted his presence during Baba Odinga’s final moments, describing them as deeply personal. “I 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,” he said.

Ruth Odinga, in a televised interview on Wednesday, had earlier stated that Salah holds no official position within ODM and dismissed claims of close ties to the family, saying she had met him only three times. She urged him to respect the family’s privacy.

Salah framed his response as a statement of respect for Baba Odinga’s memory and the truth, saying, “I speak today not out of anger but out of respect for Baba's memory and for the truth.”