Oketch Salah. Photo/Courtesy
Lawyer Miguna Miguna has come to the defense of businessman Oketch Salah following remarks by Winnie Odinga suggesting Salah deserved to be taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) or Mathare Hospital over his claims of being a close associate of the late ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Miguna’s statements were shared on social media on Wednesday, where he described the attacks on Salah as “hypocritical, unreasonable and malicious.”
Miguna emphasized that he has never met or interacted with Oketch Salah but argued that the businessman’s association with Raila Odinga was legitimate and voluntary.
According to Miguna, Raila, who was known for his wealth, influence, and well-trained security team, would only have allowed people he trusted into his inner circle.
“Out of 50 million Kenyans, Raila Amolo Odinga FREELY CHOSE Oketch Sallah to be his aide, confidant and friend,” Miguna noted, citing instances of Salah accompanying Raila on domestic and international trips, including medical visits during the last months of the former opposition leader’s life.
The lawyer also questioned the actions of Ida Odinga, Raila’s widow, and her children, suggesting double standards in their criticisms.
Miguna asked why Ida was absent during Raila’s final moments in India, why she attended public events in Migori while Raila was gravely ill, and why she has moved politically close to President William Ruto shortly after her husband’s death.
He further questioned why Ida’s children criticized Oburu Oginga, Raila’s elder brother, for age, while defending similar appointments for their mother.
“These and other questions expose the hypocrisy and double standards by many Kenyans who have attacked Oketch Sallah for no justified reasons,” Miguna wrote, adding that if blame were to be assigned, it should lie with Raila Odinga himself for creating a platform that allowed such figures to gain prominence over the decades.
Miguna’s post reflects ongoing debates over loyalty, political legacy, and personal associations within Kenya’s political elite, highlighting tensions within the Odinga family and raising questions about how public figures navigate influence and trust in the aftermath of Raila Odinga’s death.