The Raila Odinga Secretariat and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have officially denied rumors about his health, framing them as politically motivated misinformation .
- Whereabouts: Raila Odinga's spokesperson, Dennis Onyango, confirmed that the former Prime Minister travelled out of Kenya on the evening of Friday, October 4, 2025 . The destination was not disclosed, but it was clarified that he did not travel to Europe .
- Health Status: The Secretariat stated that Odinga "is not unwell" and "not indisposed" . They emphasized his history of public transparency about his health, citing past disclosures about his back surgery in 2010 and COVID-19 treatment in 2021 .
- Political Accusations: ODM has accused a specific group of political rivals of orchestrating a "familiar campaign of misinformation" . The party's statement, and later its leaders, pointed fingers at a "United Opposition" formation led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and DAP-K's Eugene Wamalwa .
🔥 Political Reactions and Escalating Tensions
The situation has triggered a sharp political fallout, with key figures and parties exchanging strong statements.
- Rigathi Gachagua's Challenge: Former DP Gachagua commented directly on the issue, questioning the nature of what he termed Odinga's "medical holiday" . He suggested that the ODM leader should make public appearances to quell the rumors, rather than relying on written statements, which he described as "amateurish" .
- Wiper Party's Rebuttal: The Wiper party issued a swift and strong response to ODM's allegations, dismissing them as an "act of desperation" and "political theatre" . The party denied that Kalonzo Musyoka had any ill will toward Odinga and accused ODM of using the health rumors to distract from its own "internal chaos and political decay" following its alliance with President William Ruto's administration .
- ODM Leaders' Defense: Several high-profile ODM leaders, including Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Kisumu West MP Rosa Buyu, have publicly defended Raila Odinga. They have condemned the opposition, particularly Gachagua, for what they call "deliberate misinformation" and "divisive" politics .
📰 Context: What Sparked the Rumors?
The speculation about Raila Odinga's health was fueled by several factors in the days leading up to the official statements.
- Absence from Events: Odinga was notably absent from several key public events, including the burial of former Cabinet Minister Dalmas Otieno and ODM's own build-up rallies in Wajir and Kisii counties .
- Postponed Anniversary: The ODM party suddenly postponed its high-profile 20th-anniversary celebrations, which were scheduled for October 10-12 in Mombasa, to November 14-16 . While the party stated this was for "inclusivity," the lack of a clear reason added to the speculation .
📝 Key Points for Your Reporting
- Official Stance: The official stance from Odinga's camp is that he is healthy and abroad on a routine trip.
- Unverified Claims: The rumors about his health remain unverified and are explicitly denied by his party.
- Political Conflict: The issue has escalated into a significant political conflict, primarily between ODM and a faction of the opposition led by Gachagua and Kalonzo.
- Missing Information: As of now, Raila Odinga's exact location and the specific purpose of his trip have not been officially disclosed. Some sources claim he traveled to the US or the UK, but this has not been independently verified
