- Recently, rumors started going around about the ODM party leader Raila Odinga's health. His office strongly denied them, saying they were false, evil, and meant to hurt his political career.
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On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, in Migori County, Mama Ida Odinga firmly dismissed persistent rumors suggesting that her husband, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga, was seriously ill or hospitalized. She clarified that the former Prime Minister was in good health and had simply traveled abroad for a short, routine rest period.
Ida’s remarks directly addressed the swirling online speculation, which she described as audacious. “I am the person who lives with him. How can someone who doesn't live with him claim to know his health status, while I, who stay with him, am unaware of any issues?” she asked. “What I'm telling you is the truth—Baba is okay,” she stated unequivocally.
Speculation began to rise on Sunday, October 4, 2025, as Kenyans took to social media to question Raila’s whereabouts. The following are some of the comments from X:
@kurialance
My intuition tells me Raila Odinga is not sick. He's preparing to dump William Ruto's camp.
@Memba_Evanz
How is Raila Odinga?
Amid growing political unrest, ODM’s recent decision to delay its 20th anniversary events added fuel to the rumors. Meanwhile, Wiper Party officials denied any involvement in spreading health-related claims, instead accusing ODM of deflection and internal instability.
As misinformation continues to shape political narratives, the Raila Odinga Secretariat has urged the public to remain vigilant and focus on verified facts rather than politically charged speculation.
Rumors about Raila Odinga’s health have circulated widely in recent days. His office strongly denied them, calling the claims false, malicious, and designed to damage his political career.
In a statement issued over the weekend, Raila’s spokesperson Dennis Onyango accused a group of political figures of orchestrating a coordinated misinformation campaign aimed at undermining the opposition leader’s credibility.
According to Onyango, the rumors—amplified by bloggers and certain media outlets—mirror tactics previously used to derail Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship earlier this year. The statement specifically named former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and former Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa as key figures behind the alleged smear effort.
The Secretariat claims that AI-generated images and unverified reports have been circulated as breaking news, contributing to public confusion. Onyango argued that the goal of these tactics is to pressure Odinga into taking sides in political disputes, particularly in opposition to President William Ruto’s administration.
“Raila Odinga has always been transparent about his health,” Onyango stated, citing past disclosures including a medical procedure in 2010 and a COVID-19 diagnosis in 2021. He emphasized that if Odinga were unwell, he would inform the public as he has done in the past.
Contrary to speculation, Onyango confirmed that Odinga is not indisposed and had left the country on Friday evening for a routine trip. He dismissed claims that the ODM leader had traveled to Europe for medical treatment, calling them unfounded and misleading.
The Secretariat also reaffirmed Odinga’s commitment to the Broad-Based Government plan, emphasizing his continued efforts to unify the country despite rising political tensions. “Home or away, Raila remains steadfast in his belief that extreme threats to the nation require extreme compromises,” Onyango noted.
