The Raila Odinga Secretariat has come out strongly to dismiss rumors circulating online about the health of former Prime Minister and ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga, terming the claims “malicious misinformation” driven by political rivals.
In a hard-hitting statement released on Sunday, Odinga’s Communications Director Dennis Onyango accused a faction led by impeached former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, alongside Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and DAP-K’s Eugene Wamalwa, of orchestrating a coordinated disinformation campaign.
“The political formation of impeached former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his struggling team of Kalonzo Musyoka and Eugene Wamalwa, among others, are on a familiar campaign of misinformation on the health of former Prime Minister and ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga,” Onyango stated.
He alleged that the group had co-opted sections of traditional media to amplify false reports originating from bloggers and even AI-generated images, portraying them as breaking news.
According to Onyango, the rumors are a continuation of the same smear campaign waged against Odinga earlier this year during his bid for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC), to exploit Odinga’s popularity for political leverage.
“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. 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,” the statement read.
“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.”
Raila’s whereabouts
Onyango clarified that Raila Odinga is in good health and recently travelled abroad on a private trip — one of several he has made this year. He dismissed claims that the ODM leader had been flown to Europe for medical reasons.
“The facts are as follows. Hon. Raila has a strong tradition of being open and generous with the country on matters of his health,” Onyango said.
He reminded Kenyans of Odinga’s consistent openness regarding his health in the past, citing public disclosures during his 2010 hospitalization as Prime Minister and his 2021 Covid-19 diagnosis while in the opposition.
“He told the country that he was undergoing a procedure when he was hospitalized as the sitting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya in June 2010. 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 statement read.
“Hon. Raila travelled out of the country on Friday evening – one of the many trips he has made this year, and definitely not the last. 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.”
