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Businessman Oketch Salah has responded to Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga after her KTN interview on Wednesday evening.
The exchange emerged after Ruth Odinga dismissed Salah’s claims about his closeness to the late former Prime Minister and his involvement during Odinga’s final days abroad.
Ruth told KTN that she knows little of Salah and is surprised that he [Salah] knows much of her and the Odinga family.
“I really don’t know him that well. I am one of the people surprised that he says he knows me. In my whole life, I have met Oketch Salah about three times. I don’t know him, and I would not like to be engaged in talking about him,” she said.
The Kisumu Woman Rep challenged Salah to fully disclose what he claims the former Prime Minister confided in him.
“If at all he was my brother’s friend or son as he calls himself, and because I don’t know him as his son, he should be able to come out and say what my brother told him,” she stated.
Salah, in reposnse on Thursday, February 19, termed the remarks as inaccurate. “Let me be clear from the outset: If you don’t wish to be associated with me, that’s your choice. I have never forced myself into your life, nor sought your attention,” said Salah.
He insisted his relationship was solely with Raila. “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.”
Who is Oketch Salah?
Ruth Odinga: I really don’t know him that well. I am one of the people surprised that he says he knows me. In my whole life, I have met Oketch Salah about three times. I don’t know him, and I would not like to be engaged in talking about Oketch Salah.… pic.twitter.com/5z9RFXZIXz
— KTN News (@KTNNewsKE) February 18, 2026
Salah went further, claiming he facilitated Ruth Odinga’s travel to India, to visit Raila.
“For the record, I am the one who convinced Baba to have you join us in India… I am also the one who arranged your business class ticket on Emirates,” he said.
The dispute has widened to include Winnie Odinga, Raila’s daughter, who has reportedly criticised what allies describe as attempts to “privatise” the party’s legacy. Ruth echoed similar sentiments, urging Salah to keep off family and party matters.
“I will ask him to please give us space as a family to be a family,” she said, adding that ODM has official structures to communicate on its behalf. “We said as NEC, he should not be allowed to be talking on behalf of the Party because he is not a member.”
Salah has maintained his position, including his controversial assertion that Odinga intended to endorse President William Ruto for a second term.
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Businessman Oketch Salah has responded to Kisumu Woman Representative
Ruth Odinga
after her KTN interview on Wednesday evening.
The exchange emerged after Ruth Odinga dismissed Salah’s claims about his closeness to the late former Prime Minister and his involvement during Odinga’s final days abroad.
Ruth told KTN that she knows little of Salah and is surprised that he [Salah] knows much of her and the Odinga family.
“I really don’t know him that well. I am one of the people surprised that he says he knows me. In my whole life, I have met Oketch Salah about three times. I don’t know him, and I would not like to be engaged in talking about him,” she said.
The Kisumu Woman Rep challenged Salah to fully disclose what he claims the
former Prime Minister
confided in him.
“If at all he was my brother’s friend or son as he calls himself, and because I don’t know him as his son, he should be able to come out and say what my brother told him,” she stated.
Salah, in reposnse on Thursday, February 19, termed the remarks as inaccurate. “Let me be clear from the outset: If you don’t wish to be associated with me, that’s your choice. I have never forced myself into your life, nor sought your attention,” said Salah.
He insisted his relationship was solely with Raila. “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.”
Who is Oketch Salah?
Ruth Odinga: I really don’t know him that well. I am one of the people surprised that he says he knows me. In my whole life, I have met Oketch Salah about three times. I don’t know him, and I would not like to be engaged in talking about Oketch Salah.…
pic.twitter.com/5z9RFXZIXz
— KTN News (@KTNNewsKE)
February 18, 2026
Salah went further, claiming he facilitated Ruth Odinga’s travel to India, to
visit Raila
.
“For the record, I am the one who convinced Baba to have you join us in India… I am also the one who arranged your business class ticket on Emirates,” he said.
The dispute has widened to include Winnie Odinga, Raila’s daughter, who has reportedly criticised what allies describe as attempts to “privatise” the party’s legacy. Ruth echoed similar sentiments, urging Salah to keep off family and party matters.
“I will ask him to please give us space as a family to be a family,” she said, adding that ODM has official structures to communicate on its behalf. “We said as NEC, he should not be allowed to be talking on behalf of the Party because he is not a member.”
Salah has maintained his position, including his controversial assertion that Odinga intended to endorse President William Ruto for a second term.
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Who is Oketch Salah?
Ruth Odinga: I really don’t know him that well. I am one of the people surprised that he says he knows me. In my whole life, I have met Oketch Salah about three times. I don’t know him, and I would not like to be engaged in talking about Oketch Salah.… pic.twitter.com/5z9RFXZIXz
— KTN News (@KTNNewsKE) February 18, 2026
By Mike Kihaki