The Raila Odinga Secretariat has rubbished claims circulating online about the health of ODM Party Leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, terming them “false, malicious, and politically motivated.”
In a statement released on Saturday, Raila’s spokesperson Dennis Onyango accused a group of political figures—including impeached former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and former Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa of orchestrating a renewed misinformation campaign targeting Odinga.
Onyango said the falsehoods were being amplified by certain media outlets and bloggers who have allegedly resorted to using AI-generated images and fake headlines to mislead the public.
“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,” Onyango stated.
He added that the intention behind the fabricated reports was to distract Odinga and force him into political battles that benefit his opponents.
“The hope of this team then and now is to bully Hon. Raila to provide a back for them to ride on in their struggle against President William Ruto,” Onyango said.
Clarifying the matter, Onyango affirmed that Raila is in good health and had left the country on Friday evening for one of his regular private trips—not to Europe, as some outlets claimed.
“He definitely did not travel to Europe as picked from bloggers and broadcast by some media houses. He is not indisposed, as prayed for by his frustrated opponents,” he said.
Onyango further reminded Kenyans that Raila has always been transparent about his health, citing instances when he publicly disclosed hospitalizations in 2010 and 2021.
He concluded by saying Raila remains focused on promoting national unity and the ideals of a Broad-Based Government, emphasizing that he continues to champion dialogue and compromise for Kenya’s stability.
