Lawyer Miguna Miguna /FILE
Lawyer Miguna Miguna has defended
businessman Oketch Salah, saying recent public criticism targeting him is
unwarranted and ignores the context of his long association with former Prime
Minister Raila Odinga.
Miguna
said he has never met Salah but believes the scrutiny directed at him was
“hypocritical, unreasonable and malicious”.
He
argued that Raila, during his lifetime, was a highly protected and influential
political figure who had full control over the people he allowed into his inner
circle.
“Raila
Amolo Odinga was a powerful, well connected, wealthy and influential politician
who had heavily armed and well trained bodyguards and aides at all times,”
Miguna said.
“Unless
Raila chose to be in the company of someone, there is no way that such a person
could have forced himself on him.”
Miguna
said Salah had, over several years, been a familiar face around the Odinga
family.
“Out
of 50 million Kenyans, Raila freely chose Oketch Salah to be his aide,
confidant and friend,” he stated.
“We
have seen images and videos of Oketch Salah dancing, gallivanting and
celebrating with Raila Odinga, Ida Odinga and other members of Raila’s family.”
His
comments follow heightened attention on Salah after sections of the public
questioned his proximity to the opposition leader.
Sallah,
a businessman, has recently portrayed himself publicly as close to Raila,
posting photos with Raila, and saying he was present during the former Prime
Minister’s last moments.
According
to Miguna, Salah also accompanied Raila on several trips abroad, including
during treatment in the final months of his life.
“Oketch
Salah accompanied Raila to numerous trips abroad,” he said, noting that other
close associates such as Onyango Ketta also travelled with him during medical
visits.
Public
debate around Salah escalated after remarks by Eala MP Winnie Odinga, who
recently addressed his association with her father.
Speaking
during an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday night, Winnie dismissed Salah’s
assertions that he was among the individuals close to Raila during his last
hours.
“A
flat-out lie that you were there at the time of my father’s death and you were
not and talking about things that did not occur is quite dangerous and makes me
question his intentions,” she said.
Winnie
refuted the claims, insisting that Salah was neither a confidant nor part of
Raila’s inner circle.
“I
have met him before, yes, but nobody really knows him,” she said during the
show.
She
described his statements as misleading and potentially harmful at a time when
the Odinga family is grieving.
Winnie
said anyone issuing unverified claims about Raila’s final moments should be
subjected to evaluation by relevant authorities.
“Such
fabrications should be investigated because they cause unnecessary distress,”
she said.
Miguna
referenced similar discussions, saying the businessman was being unfairly
targeted despite having been openly accepted by Raila for years.
“These
and other questions expose the hypocrisy and double standards by many Kenyans
who have attacked Oketch Salah for no justified reasons,” he said.
Miguna
insisted that Raila intentionally surrounded himself with individuals he
trusted.
“If
anyone deserves to be attacked for befriending Oketch Sallah, it’s Raila Amolo
Odinga,” he remarked, arguing that the late leader made deliberate choices
about the people in his political and personal space.
Miguna
urged the public to focus on factual assessments rather than speculation. “Let’s
speak the truth,” he said.