The Raila Odinga Secretariat has brushed aside as false and politically driven the rumors regarding the health of former Prime Minister and ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga.
In a statement released on Saturday, Raila’s aide Dennis Onyango blamed a group of political leaders, including impeached former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and former Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa , for unleashing a “familiar campaign of misinformation” in an attempt to discredit the opposition leader.
The statement noted that the same individuals spreading the current rumors had previously targeted Odinga during his bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship earlier this year.
“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,” the statement read.
The Secretariat accused the politicians of enlisting sections of the media and bloggers to circulate false information, including AI-generated images that are later shared online as breaking news.
“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,” Onyango said.
He insisted that Raila Odinga has always been frank and open about his state of health, giving examples of instances in the past when the ODM leader issued statements personally to the public concerning his status.
“He told the country that he was undergoing a procedure when he was hospitalized as a sitting Prime Minister in June 2010. He told the country that he was diagnosed with Covid and hospitalized as Opposition leader in 2021. He would do the same today were he to be in the health situation his opponents wish,” the statement added.
Onyango clarified that Raila is in good health and dismissed the circulating reports as baseless. He explained that the ODM leader left the country on Friday evening for one of his regular trips and did not travel to Europe as claimed.
“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,” Onyango stated.
The Secretariat reaffirmed that Raila Odinga remains fully focused on advancing the ideals of the Broad-Based Government while championing unity and dialogue as key pillars for national stability.
“Home or away, Hon. Raila remains committed to the ideals of the Broad-Based Government. He remains steadfast in his belief that extreme threats to the nation require extreme compromises in the interest of the nation,” Onyango concluded.
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