Since former Prime Minister Raila Odinga passed away, Oketch Salah has been in the spotlight, claiming that he was very close to the late ODM boss in his final days.
Nonetheless, there have been disputes from the Odinga family, with Winnie Odinga and Raila Odinga Jr. disputing Salah’s claims of being close to either their family or their father.
On the other hand, he has maintained his stance, insisting that he was very close to Raila Odinga and that he knew the latter’s wishes before his death.
So, who is this man, Oketch Salah? Times Digital Kenya walks you through the little-known details about Salah.
How Oketch Salah Came to the Limelight
Although a majority of Kenyans came to know him after Raila Odinga’s death, Oketch Salah had previously been seen on numerous occasions with the late former Prime Minister during several of his trips abroad.
In his social media posts, he was seen with Raila having a good time, sometimes dancing in joy and happiness. He also shared photos of himself accompanying him on various occasions.
As many people had not seen these posts before, Oketch became a subject of discussion after Raila’s death, when he flew back to the country, claiming that he had been with Raila in India until he passed on.
Since then, he has become a sensation, appearing at public events, especially those of the ODM led by Oburu Odinga. He has also maintained that Raila Odinga had planned to support President William Ruto’s presidential bid in 2027 and, as such, he will be on his side.
While Oketch Salah claims that he is Raila Odinga’s adopted son, Winnie Odinga, in a recent interview, denied the allegations, stating that she had only met him several times and that no one in their family knows him.
“I have met Oketch Salah before, yes, but nobody really knows him,” Winnie Odinga said during a live interview on Citizen TV.
Oketch Salah, for his part, responded by saying that he still stands by his remarks regarding his time with Raila Odinga during the latter’s final moments.
Background of Oketch Salah
Born in Migori County in southwestern Kenya, Oketch Salah is the son of the late Abdi Salah, a well-known entrepreneur in Migori Town.
Despite his Somali heritage, he was brought up like other local children in Migori, where he spent most of his childhood. He speaks fluent Dholuo and maintains strong cultural ties with the region.
For his secondary education, he attended Migori Boys School for a period before transferring to another school, where he completed his studies.
Businessman and Philanthropist
Oketch Salah, a businessman and philanthropist, appears to have been groomed for the entrepreneurial world. Following in the footsteps of his father, he has interests in mining, energy, and agriculture.
To expand his family business in gold mining in Nyatike, Salah aims to leverage his political connections, government cooperation, and access to mining sites.
In addition to his business ventures, Oketch Salah is involved in community activities, supporting and empowering youth through civic programs such as Bunge la Wananchi. He has provided financial support to several Bunges, including Manyatta Bunge, Kisumu Bunge, and Jacaranda Bunge.
Through these initiatives, Salah, the self-proclaimed adopted son of Raila Odinga, aims to strengthen groups that help the common mwananchi hold leaders accountable.
