Business man Oketch Salah has fired back at Kisumu Women Representative Ruth Odinga, following the latter’s remarks disowning him and distancing him from the Odinga family.
Salah, through a statement issued on Thursday February 19, 2026, bashed Ruth Odinga’s claims, clarifying that his personal and political relations were only with the late Raila Odinga, and not any other member of the Odinga family.
“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 from the outset: if you do not wish to associate with me, that is entirely your choice. I have never forced myself into your life and I have never sought your attention. My relationship was with your late brother, Baba and that relationship stood on its own. It had nothing to do with any other member of the family.”
Salah further confirmed that he was with the late former Prime Minister in India during his final moments and only returned to Kenya to attend to personal commitments, specifically to conclude his son’s postponed wedding.
He also claimed that he was the one who arranged for Ruth Odinga to fly to India to join his brother.
“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 he arrived from Kerala,” Salah stated.
“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,” he stated.
Salah portrayed himself as self-reliant and independent, emphasizing that his involvement with ODM was at Baba’s behest rather than driven by personal ambition.
“I come from a well-established business family. I am self-sufficient, and you know this. Whatever I have done for ODM was not driven by personal interest; it was done at Baba’s request,” he said.
Earlier, during a Wednesday night interview with KTN, Ruth Odinga stated that Salah holds no position within the ODM Party and is not close to the Odinga family.
“I really don’t know him that well, but I am surprised he is one of the people who speaks and says that he knows me. In my whole life, I have met Salah three times.”
She urged him to respect the family’s privacy as they continue to grieve Raila Odinga’s passing. “If he were my brother’s friend or adopted son, as he claims, I would like to ask him to please give us space as a family to be a family.”
