Former press secretary Dennis Onsarigo has revealed new details about the discreet but significant role former President Uhuru Kenyatta played in supporting the late Raila Odinga during some of his most challenging health battles.
Speaking during an interview on the Iko Nini Podcast on Tuesday, November 18, Onsarigo described Uhuru as a leader who went beyond political alliances and publicly staged unity, offering personal care and direct intervention when Raila’s health deteriorated.
According to Onsarigo, Uhuru routinely checked on Raila and ensured he received top-level medical attention—especially during moments when the ODM leader’s condition worsened.
“Uhuru went out of his way to make sure Raila received the best medical care,” he said.
The most difficult period, Onsarigo recalled, came in 2020, when Raila was severely affected by COVID-19. At the height of the pandemic, Raila’s lungs deteriorated rapidly, forcing urgent medical interventions and later hospitalisation.
Uhuru, still serving as president at the time, reportedly mobilised all the necessary resources to ensure Raila’s treatment was handled with speed and discretion.
Onsarigo offered an emotional account of the days Raila struggled to breathe, relying on an oxygen concentrator.
He revealed that during this period, only Raila’s daughter Winnie Odinga remained with him in the house, providing the care he desperately needed.
Meanwhile, some politicians who were close to Raila at the time chose to attend a meeting at State House instead.
Onsarigo said the timing created a disturbing impression, as though key allies had already shifted their focus to succession politics.
But when Onsarigo later described the situation to the bedridden Raila, the ODM leader dismissed it lightly, insisting the engagements were part of their 2022 political strategy.
According to Onsarigo, Raila’s COVID-19 condition in 2020 was so severe that he came close to losing his life.
“If Raila was meant to die, it could have happened in 2020,” he said, adding that the virus had severely damaged his lungs.
Although he slowly recovered, his health remained fragile, and the virus relapsed a few days later, forcing another round of hospital care.
Onsarigo also acknowledged President William Ruto’s contribution, noting that Ruto privately supported arrangements for Raila’s medical care.
This gesture, he explained, softened political lines and demonstrated that despite fierce rivalry, national leaders recognised Raila’s stature and humanity.
Raila’s supporters and political allies equally appreciated the dignified treatment he received during his final days, culminating in a State Funeral that honoured his decades-long impact on Kenya.
Onsarigo’s revelations paint a picture of Raila’s final years as being held together not just by political alliances but by personal friendships and leadership goodwill, moments the public rarely sees.
By K24 Digital