Migori businessman Oketch Salah has come out guns blazing, revealing that he was the one who convinced the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to allow his sister, Ruth Odinga, to join them in India after Jeff Oyier reportedly made several calls saying she wanted to travel.
In a hard-hitting press statement on Thursday, February 19, Salah said Oyier repeatedly reached out to Raila, indicating that Ruth wished to be part of the journey. He claimed he stepped in, persuaded Raila to include her, and personally arranged her a business class ticket to India.
Salah accused the Kisumu County Woman Representative of going before a major media house and making statements that are not accurate.
He maintained that if Ruth does not wish to associate with him, that is her choice, but insisted he has never forced himself into her life or sought her attention.
He reiterated that his relationship was with her late brother and that it stood independently of anyone else.
“It is unfortunate that you chose to go before a major media house and make statements that are not accurate. Let me be clear from the outset: if you do not wish to associate with me, that is entirely your choice. I have never forced myself into your life, and I have never sought your attention,” Salah said.
Adding
“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. For the record, I am the one who convinced Baba to have you join us in India after Jeff Oyier called him several times, saying that you wanted to come. I am also the one who arranged your business class ticket on Emirates.”
The businessman’s remarks come amid an ongoing public exchange between him and members of the Odinga family, particularly Raila’s daughter Winnie Odinga, who has previously questioned his closeness to her father and urged respect for the family.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Ruth Odinga dismissed Salah’s claims, saying she was surprised he said he knows her personally. She revealed that she has only met Salah thrice in her entire life.
“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,” she said.
Ruth also said that if Salah was truly her brother’s friend, as he claims, he should have kept private conversations private.
“If at all he was my brother’s friend or son, as he says it, he should have had the integrity that if my brother talked to him and confided in him, he should not have come out to say that my brother told him this and that,” she stated.
She further asked him to respect the family and give them space during a difficult period. Ruth added that within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, it had been agreed that Salah should not speak on its behalf because he is not a registered member.
On claims surrounding Raila’s final days in India, Ruth said she was present when he passed on and that by the time she arrived, Salah was not there.
“By the time I got to India, I never saw him. I am the one who was with my brother when he passed away. So I came when he had already left,” she remarked.
The exchange has now drawn attention within political circles and the Odinga family, with focus shifting to who was present, who facilitated what, and who had access during Raila Odinga’s final days.
