Political analyst and youth leader Alex Matere has publicly criticised journalist Oketch Salah for his recent social media posts claiming a close association with the late ODM party leader Raila Odinga.
In a detailed post on X, Matere, who has been part of Raila Odinga’s inner circle for over a decade, recalled his involvement in three presidential campaigns — 2013, 2017, and 2022 — as well as the constitutional amendment initiatives from Okoa Kenya to the BBI process.
He emphasised that during all these activities, Salah was not known to him or to the networks surrounding Odinga.
“I have accompanied my erudite leader across the country, from Vanga to Todonyang, Busia to Mandera, Nzoia to Tana. I have sipped from his wisdom on numerous occasions. But in all this, I never met or heard of the loquacious round augmentative character,” Matere wrote.
The youth leader accused Salah of exploiting the late ODM leader’s death for personal gain, setting up social media platforms and sharing videos purporting to relay Odinga’s last wishes.
Matere expressed shock at Salah’s behaviour, noting that it came shortly after Odinga’s funeral, and alleged that the journalist was hosting a lavish wedding while simultaneously posting about the deceased leader.
“Mark you, a fortnight or less after we bade Baba farewell, even before his epitaph was inscribed, the character is ironically hosting a lavish wedding frenetically dancing to Baba’s dirge,” Matere wrote, calling the actions disrespectful to both the late leader and his supporters.
Matere’s post has sparked debate among Kenyan political commentators and social media users, with many defending the late Odinga’s legacy and questioning the timing and motives behind Salah’s claims.
Alex Matere asked for guidance from the late leader, writing, “Baba, show us a signal on how to deal with these lofty characters dancing on your grave.”