Raila recuperating in India, not critically ill - Oburu Oginga clarifies

Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga says former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was indeed unwell but is currently recuperating and resting in India, and not in the conditions alleged by a section of politicians to the media.

Addressing journalists in Ugunja, Siaya County, Raila's elder brother castigated the opposition for using the ODM leader's health status to spread propaganda and cause panic among Kenyans.

Oburu allayed fears over Raila’s health, emphasising that the former Prime Minister was well and that he could return to Kenya anytime soon to resume his normal political duties.

“I want to take this opportunity to clarify this, there have been a lot of rumours about our party leader, Raila Odinga, that he is very sick, that he is almost dying and that he is completely out," Oburu noted.

"But I want to tell you that he is out and about, and he is just like any other human being who was indisposed a little, and he is now recuperating and resting, but he was not in those conditions alleged."

He added, "I want to tell you that very soon you will see him back. He is in India; people should not say they do not know where he is. He is not in the US or Dubai as alleged by some."

The remarks come a week after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party dismissed reports that its boss, Raila Odinga, was battling health complications.

In a statement, the party scoffed at circulating rumours that Odinga is indisposed, hence why he has been missing from the public eye.

ODM clarified that Raila left the country on Friday last week for an undisclosed mission, and if he was ailing, he would have made it public as he had done in previous instances.

"Hon. Raila has a strong tradition of being open and generous with the country on matters of his health. He told the country that he was undergoing a procedure when he was hospitalised as the sitting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya in June 2010," said ODM.

"He told the country that he was diagnosed with COVID and hospitalized as the opposition leader in 2021. He would do the same today were he to be in the health situation his opponents wish."

The party therefore fingered the opposition for spreading the rumours in an attempt to weaken President William Ruto's political fortitude.

It added that ex-Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DAP-K boss Eugene Walawa and others are only mudslinging Odinga's name to erode mass support for the ruling administration.