UGUNJA, Siaya, October –Siaya Senator Dr Oburu Odinga has finally confirmed that his younger brother, Raila Odinga, was indeed indisposed.
Dr Oburu clarified that the ODM Party leader had indeed travelled to India to seek treatment.
Despite speculation that the former prime minister had flown to the United States or Dubai, he clarified that he did not visit either country.
He was addressing the press in Ugunja Constituency when they escorted ODM candidate Moses Omondi to present his papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for the upcoming November 27th by-election.
“Raila is not critically ill as alluded to in a section of social media platforms and some leading opposition figures in the country,” Dr Oburu said.
The Senate Energy Committee Chair promised Kenyans that Raila would soon jet back into the country in order to continue with his political undertakings.
Odinga’s spouse, Ida Odinga, also earlier refuted speculation that Raila was critically ill, explaining that he was fit as a fiddle.
During a public event held in Migori on Tuesday 7th, she termed the rumours as baseless.
“He is fine and has just taken a short holiday. Let me ask, how can someone who doesn’t live with him know his health status more than I?” Ida posed.
Recently, ODM traded political brick brats with the Kalonzo Musyoka-led Wiper Patriotic Front Party on the state of Raila’s health.
In a press release issued on Sunday, October 5th, Raila’s spokesperson Dennis Onyango emphasised that: “Raila has a strong tradition of being open and generous with the country on his health as evidenced in 2010 and 2021.”
“He would do the same today were he to be in the health situation his opponents wish.”
In a rejoinder, Wiper’s Secretary General, Senator Shakilla Abdalla, issued a terse statement denouncing: “the latest outburst by ODM Party through its surrogates over imagined ‘misinformation’ on the health of Raila Odinga is nothing short of political theatre and an act of desperation from a once respected movement.”
Kalonzo Musyoka, it added, doesn’t harbour any ill will whatsoever towards Mr Odinga.
“The two leaders share a long, public history of cooperation and mutual respect. Any suggestion that he wishes harm upon Raila is malicious, reckless and utterly false,” partly reads the statement.
ODM luminaries had castigated some members of the United Opposition- former Deputy President and DCP Party leader Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper’s Kalonzo, and DAP-K’s Eugene Wamalwa for ‘uttering untrue remarks’ on Raila’s health following unverified viral social media posts.
