From Obscurity to the Centre of Power: Who Is Oketch Salah, Raila Odinga’s ‘Adopted Son’?

By : Mweru Mbugua 

In the hours following the announcement of Raila Odinga’s death, as the country sank into shock and mourning, a previously unknown figure began to dominate Kenya’s political and social media space

He was paunchy, cheerful, unmistakably present and almost entirely unfamiliar

Oketch Salah, a man few Kenyans had heard of weeks earlier, suddenly appeared everywhere. On social media timelines, at public functions, beside Raila’s family, and at the heart of funeral arrangements, Salah’s rapid rise from obscurity to omnipresence left the nation asking a single question: Who exactly is this man?

Videos posted on Salah’s X account  created barely a month before Raila’s death  showed him closely accompanying the former Prime Minister in his final days. The clips captured the two chatting, dancing, posing for selfies and sharing moments of apparent ease

Unlike Raila’s long-time allies  seasoned politicians and established power brokers Salah had no visible political pedigree, no known public record, and no clear explanation for his sudden proximity to Kenya’s most consequential opposition leader

Tall, rotund, and sporting a full head of curly hair, Salah cut an imposing figure. He was boisterous, smile-prone, and carefully measured in speech. Around him, Raila appeared relaxed and amused, even as his health visibly declined. To many observers, it seemed as though Salah had been entrusted with an unusual level of access and influence during Raila’s final chapter

Yet his emergence came without context or introduction

Before Raila’s final medical trips to Dubai and India, the ODM leader publicly presented Salah at a rally attended by thousands, praising him and referring to him as a political son. The crowd, initially puzzled, warmed to the newcomer as he addressed them briefly in Dholuo and capped the moment with a Ksh.1 million donation  a familiar gesture in Kenya’s political theatre.

From that point on, Salah’s visibility only intensified.

In the chaotic weeks before and after Raila’s death, Salah appeared at nearly every major event linked to the former Prime Minister. He featured prominently in news coverage, took part in funeral planning, issued statements on Raila’s passing, and was frequently seen alongside Mama Ida Odinga

At Kang’o ka Jaramogi, where mourners gathered to pay their respects, Salah was unavoidable  dressed flamboyantly, projecting authority, yet still unfamiliar

When questioned about his role, Salah described himself simply as “Raila’s son,” a claim that only deepened public confusion

As internal tensions surfaced within ODM, Salah further stoked controversy. He began making authoritative political statements, including claims that Raila had shared sensitive views with him in his final days

At a function in Rarieda in December 2025, Salah alleged that Raila had warned him about ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, suggesting he might be working for opposing political interests

The remarks unsettled party insiders and accelerated pushback against Salah’s growing influence. By the start of the new year, ODM figures openly questioned his legitimacy, authority, and motives

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Unfazed, Salah defended himself publicly, insisting his closeness to Raila was neither fabricated nor opportunistic.

“I was with Baba Raila Odinga from the time he first fell ill until his final moments on earth,” he wrote. “I do not say this for sympathy, relevance or political mileage; I say it because it is the truth”

He rejected accusations of disrespecting Raila’s family or positioning himself as a replacement figure, maintaining that his presence was sanctioned by Raila himself

Still, skepticism persisted  including from within the Odinga family. Asked about Salah during a Citizen TV interview, Winnie Odinga remarked, “I have met him before, yes, but nobody really knows him.” Her brother, Raila Junior, responded more bluntly on social media: “Nonsense”

Despite the controversy, Salah has continued to act with diplomatic confidence, hosting and meeting prominent regional figures, particularly from Somalia, and conducting what he describes as consultative engagements

In recent weeks alone, he has met Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni, Somali presidential candidate Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor, CS Wycliffe Oparanya, and musician Prince Indah

Yet even as doors open and podiums are shared, one reality remains unchanged: Oketch Salah is still an enigma

He may sit at the table. He may command attention. He may speak with confidence and conviction. But for much of the country  and even for those closest to Raila Odinga  the question endures

Who really is Oketch Salah?