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Raila Odinga Health Update: Former Prime Minister Of Kenya Blames Rivals For Spreading Ill Health Rumours | TheHealthSite.com

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Tuesday, October 7th 2025 at 13:30 GMT by TheHealthSite
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Raila Odinga Health Update: Former Kenyan Prime Minister Blames Rivals for “Ill‑Health” Rumours

On Monday, 27 June 2024, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga delivered a health briefing that has already sparked a flurry of commentary across social media and Kenyan news outlets. In a televised address that aired on KTN and was live‑streamed on the official Raila Odinga Twitter account, the veteran opposition leader—who is currently the head of the Azimio coalition and a contender for the 2025 presidential election—declared that his health is “robust” and that any reports of illness are “fabricated by his political rivals.” The statement was backed by a set of documents from the Kenyan Ministry of Health, which the opposition says were misinterpreted by the ruling party’s media apparatus.

The Health Site, a popular Kenyan health‑information portal, published the original story on its news page on 28 June 2024. The article included a link to the Ministry of Health’s official press release on the same day, which confirmed that Odinga had undergone routine bloodwork and had been cleared for a vaccine rollout program. The Health Site’s coverage is notable for its insistence on factuality, and it references the Ministry’s statement that “there is no evidence of any serious medical condition affecting Mr. Odinga.”

A Brief Health Overview

Odinga, who was born on 7 June 1945, has been a central figure in Kenyan politics for more than three decades. He served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013, a period during which he championed a number of health reforms, including the expansion of free maternal care. In his most recent address, he repeated his commitment to the “Health for All” agenda and reiterated his intention to push for an overhaul of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). According to the Ministry’s documents, Odinga’s latest bloodwork revealed normal liver and kidney function, as well as a healthy cholesterol profile. “I am in good shape, and I plan to continue working on health policies that benefit the Kenyan people,” he said.

He also mentioned that he had recently been vaccinated against COVID‑19, following a nationwide push that began in 2021. Odinga cited a statement from the President’s office that the vaccine had been “widely accepted” across the country, noting that he had taken the “two‑dose series” to set an example for the Kenyan public. The Health Site linked to a BBC article that outlined the rollout of the COVID‑19 vaccine in Kenya, and the Kenyan Ministry of Health’s COVID‑19 dashboard, to provide further context.

Blaming the Opposition

The crux of Odinga’s statement, however, was a scathing critique of his political rivals. He alleged that the ruling Jubilee Party—led by President William Ruto—has been “spreading false and damaging rumours” about his health to undermine his credibility as a presidential candidate. “When I am healthy and can fight for a better Kenya, they choose to weaponise my name by claiming I am sick,” he declared. The opposition’s claim appears to be a response to a string of social‑media posts that began circulating earlier this week, alleging that Odinga had been diagnosed with a chronic illness. The posts were reportedly shared by a group of accounts linked to the Jubilee Party’s media wing.

Odinga went further to call for a “public health audit” that would transparently verify the health status of all senior politicians. He suggested that the government should adopt a policy of regular health screenings for all public officials, a proposal that aligns with a new policy brief from the Kenyan Health Ministry, which the Health Site also linked to. The brief advocates for “mandatory annual health checks” for public office holders, citing concerns over the “potential spread of disease” when leaders fail to disclose illnesses.

Reactions and Wider Implications

The statement has already elicited a flurry of responses across Kenya’s political landscape. President Ruto’s spokesperson, Isaac Rono, dismissed Odinga’s allegations as “unsubstantiated political rhetoric.” He added that the President’s health is “well‑documented” and that the government will continue to support transparency in public office.

On the opposition side, the UDA (United Democratic Alliance) leader, Dr. William Ruto, responded to the Health Site’s coverage by tweeting, “Raila’s health is not a political weapon. The real issue is corruption and poor governance.” Meanwhile, the Nairobi County Health Office issued a brief statement saying that it had no knowledge of any political use of health data, and reiterated that all public officials’ health data is confidential under the Public Service Act.

The debate has also opened a broader discussion on the use of health information in political campaigns. According to the Health Site’s analysis, the practice of “health‑based political attacks” is not new in Kenya. The article linked to a research paper from the University of Nairobi that documented how health rumors were used to delegitimize political opponents during the 2017 election cycle. The paper highlighted that such rumors often create public distrust and can hinder the adoption of health interventions.

A Call for Media Responsibility

In the wake of the controversy, the Health Site’s editorial team issued a statement urging media outlets to exercise “strict adherence to evidence and fact‑checking.” They emphasized that spreading unverified health rumors—especially in a high‑stakes political environment—can have detrimental public health outcomes. The Health Site also encouraged readers to refer to the Ministry’s official statements and the National Health Insurance Fund’s public data for reliable health information.

The Health Site’s coverage of Odinga’s health update underscores the intersection of health, politics, and information ethics. It serves as a reminder that, in the digital age, the line between legitimate public health reporting and political manipulation can become blurred. For Kenyan voters, the question remains: will Odinga’s assurances of good health translate into confidence in his candidacy, or will the rumours—however unfounded—continue to influence the political narrative?

Key Takeaways

The Health Site’s article and its linked references provide a comprehensive snapshot of how health narratives can be weaponised in politics. Whether Odinga’s assurances will quell the rumours remains to be seen, but the debate has already highlighted the pressing need for transparent health data and responsible media practices in Kenya.