ODM dispels reports on Raila's sickness, accuses Gachagua-led opposition of spreading rumours

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

ODM clarified that Odinga left the country on Friday 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 hospitalized as a 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.

"The misinformation is broadcast by the same team that went on a frenzy against Hon. Raila's bid for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission earlier this year," ODM added.

"Gachagua, Kalonzo & co have co-opted sections of the traditional media that are happily picking feeds from bloggers, including AI-generated images, and broadcasting them as some kind of investigative Breaking News."

ODM maintained that Odinga remains committed to "his belief that extreme threats to the nation require extreme compromises in the interest of the nation"

As of Friday evening and Saturday morning, the rumours had gone viral on social media, many claiming that Odinga was in a critical state.