Controversial businessman-turned-politician Oketch Sallah has dismissed long-standing claims that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga single-handedly raised or financially supported him, saying the narrative has been exaggerated and misunderstood.
Speaking at a public event on Friday, Sallah said he grew up under the care of his biological father and within a self-sufficient business-oriented family, not in the Odinga household as widely believed. He acknowledged, however, that the late Raila Odinga played an influential mentorship role in his life, often entrusting him with political and organisational assignments both locally and abroad.
“It is not true that I was brought up in Raila Odinga’s family. I was raised by my father, and my family was stable and independent,” Sallah said. He explained that the perception that Raila took care of him gained traction after he was once assigned to read Raila’s message during the burial of the late Dalmas Otieno. According to Sallah, Raila later referred to him publicly as his “adopted son,” a remark he says cemented the narrative.
“Oburu Odinga delivered Jaramogi’s message, while I read Raila’s message. That is where the confusion started,” he added.
However, Sallah’s recent utterances have drawn a sharp response from EALA MP Winnie Odinga. Speaking on Citizen TV in an interview hosted by Yvonne Okwaro, Winnie questioned Sallah’s sincerity, suggesting he was selectively telling his story to suit current political interests. She maintained that, though, she somewhat knows Sallah, not much can come from him over Raila’s life.
Despite the criticism, Sallah said he still considers Winnie and the wider Odinga family as close family friends and expressed a desire to maintain cordial relations going forward.