Winnie Odinga didn’t hold back when talking about Oketch Salah during her big sit-down on Citizen TV. The East African Legislative Assembly member spoke to host Yvonne Okwara on Tuesday night. It was her first television chat since her father, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, passed away. People across the country tuned in to hear her thoughts on family matters and party politics. But things got tense when the topic turned to Oketch Salah.
Yvonne Okwara asked straight out: ‘Do you know this man, Oketch Salah? Winnie paused for a moment before answering. “I’ve met him,” she said. “And just like everyone else, I’d like to believe nobody really knows him.” She went further, calling some of his stories outright lies. Winnie stressed that Salah was not with her father in those final hours, no matter what he has said publicly.
The exchange caught many viewers off guard. Oketch Salah has been in the headlines a lot lately. He calls himself Raila Odinga’s adopted son and close aide. He travelled with the late leader to India for medical check-ups and has shared details about private talks they supposedly had.
Salah even claimed he held Raila up during painful moments, with just one security guard nearby. He insists these are true memories, not made up for attention.
She said spreading false details about her dad’s last days is dangerous. It raises questions about why someone would do that. In a sharp comment, she suggested Salah might need help – either a visit to Mathare Hospital for mental health support or a trip to the DCI for questioning. Her words left little room for doubt about how the family sees him right now.
This isn’t the first time tensions have boiled over in ODM circles since Raila’s death. The party is going through a tough period, with different voices pulling in various directions.
Salah has weighed in on all that, sharing what he says were Raila’s private views on figures like Edwin Sifuna and future elections. He once claimed Raila planned to back President William Ruto in 2027 and saw certain people as problems inside the party.
Winnie’s interview gave her a chance to set the record straight on a few things. She talked about how hard it has been for the family to grieve while watching these stories spread. Losing a father like Raila – a giant in Kenyan politics – is painful enough without extra drama.
She remembered him as a kind and forgiving man behind the public image. Viewers saw emotion in her eyes when she spoke about their last times together.
Many Kenyans took to social media right after the show. Some agreed with Winnie, saying family should have the final say on personal matters.
Yvonne Okwara handled the tough questions with care. She’s known for going straight to the point, and this was no different. The show, called The Explainer, covered a lot of ground – from ODM’s future to how the family is coping day to day. Winnie mentioned feeling pressure on party members to sign loyalty forms and spoke out against intimidation.
As Kenya watches ODM navigate these changes, moments like this remind everyone how personal politics can get.
Salah has said he’s open to any public interview to clear his name. He denies trying to push the family aside or disrespect Mama Ida Odinga. Whether that happens soon remains to be seen. For now, Winnie’s words hang in the air, drawing a line between what’s real and what’s not in the stories about Raila Odinga’s final chapter.
People who missed the broadcast are already sharing clips online. It’s the kind of conversation that gets folks talking around dinner tables and in matatus the next day. In a country where Raila shaped so much history, his legacy – and who tells its stories – matters a great deal.
