A heated political dispute has erupted between Kenya's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper party, alongside other opposition figures, concerning the health of former Prime Minister and ODM leader Raila Odinga. Allegations of Odinga being unwell or even hospitalised have triggered strong condemnations from his allies, who accuse political opponents of spreading malicious and unfounded rumours.

The ODM swiftly countered these claims, labelling the reports as “politically motivated lies” designed to sow fear and confusion among the Kenyan public. Raila Odinga’s office issued a statement confirming that the former Prime Minister had indeed left the country on a Friday evening, but emphatically clarified that the trip was purely routine and entirely unrelated to any health concerns. The statement explicitly denied reports by bloggers and some media houses claiming he travelled to Europe or was indisposed, asserting these were baseless prayers from his “frustrated opponents.”

ODM further alleged that these false reports were part of a “well-coordinated misinformation campaign” spearheaded by political figures associated with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The party criticised the unethical and inhumane tactics, including the use of AI-generated photos by some mainstream media houses, calling it a “new low” in political propaganda. ODM emphasised that spreading falsehoods about someone's health due to political desperation is unacceptable.

Raila Odinga, aged 80, has had a demanding year, primarily dedicating his efforts to his campaign for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairmanship. His last public appearance in late September at a high-level meeting in Addis Ababa preceded a two-week absence from the public eye, which ignited online speculation. This included a front-page story in The Star newspaper titled “Where Is Raila?” which ODM dismissed as sensational and misleading, reiterating that Odinga’s current international travel is part of his ongoing engagements.

Adding to the clarifications, ODM also addressed the postponement of its 20th-anniversary celebrations. Originally scheduled for October 10–12 in Mombasa, the event has been rescheduled to November 14–16. The party clarified that this decision was made to allow for broader participation from more counties and had no connection to the Party Leader’s personal schedule or health status.

The ODM’s statement ignited a fervent debate across social media platforms. Loyalists quickly rose to Odinga's defence, denouncing the claims as cheap propaganda, while sceptics questioned the lack of recent public appearances and demanded transparency. Supporters in Kisumu, Nairobi, and Mombasa expressed unwavering confidence in Odinga’s well-being, reiterating that the party has always been transparent about his health. ODM concluded its statement with a firm reassurance to the public: “When Raila Odinga is unwell, it has never been hidden. We urge Kenyans to treat these rumours with the contempt they deserve.” The party insists Odinga remains “fit, focused, and fully engaged” as he prepares for the upcoming party celebrations and his broader continental political ambitions.