Kenya: Raila Breaks Silence on Online Health, death Rumors
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has dismissed claims circulating online about his health, describing them as false and politically motivated.
Through a phone call with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Director of Communications, Philip Etale, Odinga said he was “jovial and happy” and urged Kenyans to pray for those spreading misinformation.
“I have spoken with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga just under five minutes ago. He is jovial and happy,” Etale said in a statement on Monday. “He is seeing people spreading so much propaganda online and says, ‘let’s keep praying for them.’”
Etale added that the ODM leader had sent his greetings to supporters and assured them he would be back in a few days.
The remarks came amid renewed online speculation about Odinga’s health, with some blogs and social media accounts claiming he had travelled to Europe for treatment.
ODM Blames Political Rivals for ‘Misinformation Campaign’
On Saturday, the ODM Secretariat accused a section of political figures aligned to the opposition faction of running a “familiar campaign of misinformation” targeting Odinga.
Raila’s spokesperson, Dennis Onyango, linked the current rumours to the same political actors who opposed Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship earlier this year.
“The misinformation is broadcast by the same team that went on a frenzy against Hon. Raila’s bid for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission earlier this year,” Onyango said.
He further alleged that the group was working with sympathetic media outlets and bloggers to circulate falsehoods, including AI-generated images being passed off as breaking news.
“The hope of this team then and now is to bully Hon. Raila to provide a back for them to ride on in their struggle against President William Ruto,” Onyango added.
‘He Has Always Been Open About His Health’
Odinga’s team said the former Prime Minister has always been transparent about his medical condition whenever necessary, citing his past disclosures while in public office.
“He told the country that he was undergoing a procedure when he was hospitalised as the sitting Prime Minister in 2010 and again when he contracted COVID-19 in 2021. He would do the same today were he to be in the health situation his opponents wish,” Onyango said.
Onyango clarified that Odinga left the country on Friday for one of his “many routine trips” and not for medical treatment abroad as claimed.
Political Allies Distance Themselves
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua dismissed suggestions linking him or Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to the rumours.
“Neither Kalonzo nor I are a bacteria or a virus to cause illness to anyone,” Gachagua quipped.
Kalonzo’s Wiper Party also distanced itself from the controversy, accusing ODM of hypocrisy and of dragging its leader’s name into internal political disputes.
“ODM should focus on resolving its own problems with Kenya Kwanza instead of projecting blame onto others,” the party said in a statement.
