The ghost of the late Raila Odinga continues to haunt the corridors of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), as a bitter war of words erupts over his political legacy. Businessman Oketch Salah has come out swinging against Ruth Odinga, dismissing her attempts to sideline him and doubling down on explosive claims about "moles" within the party.

What began as a whisper campaign has exploded into open warfare. Oketch Salah, a flamboyant figure who styles himself as a "Young Turk" and confidant of the late premier, has publicly rebutted Ruth Odinga’s assertions that he was merely a peripheral figure in Raila’s life. In a fiery rejoinder, Salah insisted that his relationship with "Baba" was personal, substantive, and rooted in direct service—specifically citing his role in facilitating Raila’s medical trips to India.

"Someone Else's Dog"

The conflict reached a fever pitch when Salah invoked a cryptic warning he claims Raila gave him during his final days. "He told me that [Edwin] Sifuna was someone else's dog, and now we can see exactly what he meant," Salah alleged, dropping a bombshell that challenges the loyalty of the party’s Secretary General. This accusation strikes at the very heart of the current power struggle, pitting the old guard represented by the Odinga family against a restless younger faction that feels the party has lost its revolutionary way.

Ruth Odinga, the Kisumu Woman Representative and sister to the late leader, had earlier dismissed Salah as an impostor, stating she "never saw him" during the critical moments in India. She portrayed Raila as a man who did not gossip, thereby invalidating Salah’s claims of private political confessions. However, Salah’s retort was swift and cutting: "My interactions with Ruth were initiated by her. I was there when it mattered. I will not be erased from history."

• The KICC Flashpoint: The tension boiled over earlier this month when Salah organized an event at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) where youths donned ODM merchandise emblazoned with President William Ruto’s portrait. The party leadership, led by Gladys Wanga, disowned the event, but for Salah, it was a strategic move to signal a potential realignment.
• The Ideological Rift: This is more than a personal feud; it is a battle for the soul of ODM. Salah represents a faction willing to explore cooperation with the government, arguing that "Baba's wish" was for stability, while the traditionalists view this as heresy.

A House Divided

As the ODM National Executive Council (NEC) scrambles to contain the fallout, the public spat between Salah and the Odinga family exposes deep structural fractures. The party is struggling to define its identity in a post-Raila era, caught between the politics of grievance and the pragmatism of survival. For Oketch Salah, the strategy is clear: disrupt, divide, and dominate.

Whether Salah is a truthful messenger or a political opportunist remains to be seen. But one thing is undeniable: he has successfully inserted himself into the center of the succession conversation, proving that even in death, Raila Odinga’s influence remains the most potent currency in Kenyan politics.