Conflicting statements from different people close to the former prime minister have left many Kenyans seeking clarity about who Salah really was to him.
Now, Raila’s long-serving communication aide, Dennis Onyango, has shared his understanding of the matter, offering a different perspective from some earlier accounts.
Speaking during a television interview, Onyango said that Oketch Salah was indeed a friend of Raila.
According to him, anyone who worked closely with the former premier was familiar with Salah.
Onyango explained that he personally met him several times and even travelled with him on both local and international trips.
He, however, clarified that although he knew the two were close, he did not know the details of their personal bond.
“As staff, our role was to support the boss and the people around him. If Raila appeared with Salah, it was not our place to question it. What brought them together is something I cannot explain,” Onyango said.
The aide also revealed that Salah was present at Raila’s Karen residence on the day the veteran politician left for India for medical attention.
He claimed that the businessman delivered a new phone to Raila before the trip. While Raila was in India, Onyango said he sometimes communicated with him directly and, at times, through Salah’s phone.
According to Onyango, this was not the first time Salah had accompanied Raila abroad. He said the businessman had joined the former premier on several foreign visits in the past.
On the issue of Salah’s background, Onyango described him as someone from a well-known business family in Migori County.
He noted that Salah’s father owned one of the earliest bakeries in the area, making the family familiar to many locals.
He also suggested that claims that Salah was Raila’s “adopted son” may have been used figuratively rather than literally.
Despite Onyango’s remarks, the issue remains controversial. Raila’s daughter, Winnie Odinga, recently stated that although she had met Salah, she did not consider him a close family associate.
She also urged individuals claiming strong ties with the late leader to respect his memory.
Salah, on his part, has maintained that he shared a close relationship with Raila and has hinted that he may reveal more about their final interactions.