- ODM leader Raila Odinga is in India, where he is recuperating after treatment for an undisclosed ailment
- Siaya senator Oburu Oginga said the former prime minister was indisposed and that he was responding well to treatment
- An ODM secretariat member would later share a photo of a relaxed Raila in an undisclosed location, but evidently not in Kenya
ODM leader Raila Odinga is currently in India, where he flew for treatment for an undisclosed illness.
Source: Facebook
Siaya senator Oburu Oginga revealed on Thursday, October 9.
What Oburu Odinga said about Raila Odinga
Oburu, who is Raila’s elder brother, said the former prime minister had been a little bit been indisposed and that he was recuperating in an Indian hospital.
Seeking to alleviate the concerns and fears among Raila’s supporters, Oburu stated the leader would be back in the country soon and that he responded well to treatment.
“I just wanted to take this opportunity to clarify. There has been a lot of rumours about our party leader, Raila Odinga, that he is very sick, that he is almost dying, that he is completely out. But I want to tell you that Raila is up and about, and he only, just like any other human being, was indisposed a little, and he is now recuperating and resting, but he was not in those conditions which have been put in the press. I want to clear the air and I want to tell you that very soon we will see him back home again. So that is something which I wanted to clarify. And I also want to tell you that he is in India. People say they don’t know where he is. they says he is in Dubai, he is in America, he is where? He is in a country called India, and he will be back soon. So our people should not be worried,” Oburu said.
A day later, a member of the ODM secretariat shared a photo of Raila.
Is Raila Odinga well?
Benson Musungu, ODM’s youth director, posted a photo in which his boss appeared relaxed and calm in the company of another individual.
Whilst Musungu did not share Raila’s location, it seemed to marry with the explanation of Oburu.
He indicated that the photo was captured Friday, October 10, a day after the Siaya senator’s clarification.
“Baba (Raila) a few mins ago. Baba, Kenyans have missed you big. It is like we will have another moment of “Baba While You Were Away”, we pick you up from the airport to Uhuru Park for the ODM @20 concert performed by the new generation musicians and the Maroon Commandos. I’m overwhelmed with calls, my phone is very busy, messages are streaming nonstop, people asking that we bring you out,” Musungu captioned the photo.
How Raila Odinga’s team countered rumours about his health
Meanwhile, the rumours about Raila’s health were fueled by his secretariat, which released a statement to clarify his whereabouts.
Raila’s spokesperson, Dennis Onyango, issued a statement on behalf of the secretariat, refuting widespread rumours about Raila’s location.
The claims circulating suggested he was unwell and had been flown abroad for specialised medical care.
Source: Twitter
The statement clarified that Raila was in good health and had travelled for routine engagements, not for treatment.
Beyond addressing concerns about Raila’s condition, the statement strongly criticised key figures within the united opposition, accusing them of funding false narratives for political gain.
Among those named were Kalonzo Musyoka of the Wiper party, Rigathi Gachagua of DCP, and Eugene Wamalwa from DAP-Kenya.
They were accused of relying on falsehoods to “bully Raila to provide a back for them to ride on in their struggle against President William Ruto.”
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
