Oketch Salah Fires Back At Ruth Odinga In Bitter Succession Row
The internal stability of the late Raila Odinga’s family has fractured into a public spectacle of loyalty tests and political maneuvering. In a scathing “reality check” issued on Thursday, February 19, 2026, businessman Oketch Salah—the self-proclaimed ‘adopted son’ of the late icon—launched a fierce defense of the family patriarch, Oburu Odinga, while delivering a blistering ultimatum to Kisumu Women Representative Ruth Odinga.
The escalating feud centers on the leadership of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the legitimacy of those who were by Raila’s side during his final days.
A Warning of Political Ruin
In a blunt social media statement, Salah cautioned Ruth Odinga that her public defiance of her elder brother is a dangerous game. Demandng that she respect Oburu’s current role as the party leader, Salah suggested that her actions are a betrayal of family blood that could lead to her own political downfall.
“You should stop fighting your elder brother, who is the current party leader,” Salah stated. “Dr. Oburu Odinga did not simply assume a position; he carries a responsibility, and Baba entrusted me, in good faith, to work with him. If you allow your elder brother to be put on the chopping board today, do not be surprised if tomorrow it is your turn.”
The India Trip: Business Class and Final Farewells
Salah also took the opportunity to settle scores regarding the family’s final trip to India. Responding to Ruth’s suggestions that his proximity to the late statesman was fabricated, Salah revealed personal details about the logistics of the journey to prove his influence.
He claimed it was his intervention that allowed Ruth to see her brother one last time. “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,” Salah revealed, insisting he only spoke to Ruth at her own request.
The 2027 Endorsement Bombshell
Despite the Odinga children—specifically Winnie and Raila Junior—dismissing his claims as “nonsense,” Salah refused to retract the most explosive allegation of the year: that Raila Odinga intended to endorse President William Ruto for a second term in 2027.
Salah maintains that he holds the truth of Raila’s final, private conversations and feels a moral obligation to share them, regardless of the family’s disapproval.
“Baba was clear to me that he intended to endorse President Ruto… I am duty-bound to speak honestly about what he told me, without fear and without seeking permission,” he stated.
As the “House of Mzee” grapples with this power vacuum, the public rift between the biological heirs and the ‘adopted’ confidant continues to rewrite the narrative of the post-Raila era.
