As speculation about ODM party leader Raila Odinga continues, hawk-eyed Kenyans appear to have pinpointed the former Prime Minister's exact location in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
On Sunday, the party secretariat clarified that although Raila had travelled out of the country last Friday, he did not travel to Europe for treatment as alluded to by some media houses.
The statement did little to calm speculation about Raila's whereabouts, particularly because the ODM boss has been missing in action for nearly a fortnight.
On the evening of Sunday, October 5, a photo of Raila watching the London derby between Arsenal and West Ham emerged, suggesting that he was in good health, despite initial concerns.
From the image, Raila appeared to be all smiles as he posed alongside Awendo Member of Parliament Walter Owino, seated on the left.
It was the location where the photo was taken that sparked more questions, as a deeper look at the background of the image revealed that Raila was watching the game at King's College Hospital in Dubai.
Whether he was there for treatment or not remains unclear. However, his party secretariat on Sunday said he is on a 'medical holiday'.
Kenyans.co.ke did a quick spot check on the hospital and established that while King's College Hospital has its main branch in London, there are several branches of the same hospital in the Middle East, including places like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
About King's College Hospital
The facility offers a comprehensive range of specialist services and is largely regarded as one of the best specialist facilities globally, thanks to its use of advanced medical technology and elite staff.
According to the official King's College Hospital website, among the core specialist services offered at the facility are orthopaedics, providing treatments such as joint replacement, spine surgery, sports medicine, and paediatric orthopaedics.
The facility also offers Cardiology services, including diagnosing and treating various heart conditions, while comprehensive paediatric care addresses the health needs of children through both general and specialised services.
Patients with digestive and liver issues can also receive specialist care at the facility, as it offers gastroenterology and hepatology services as well as general and colorectal surgery.
Individuals seeking to enhance their looks can also receive treatment at the facility, which offers plastic and reconstructive surgery for both cosmetic and medical needs, alongside dermatology services for skin health.
The hospital also offers vascular Surgery, which essentially helps in the management of blood vessel conditions as well as surgical interventions for neurological disorders.
Pricing
While billing can vary from one patient to another depending on the ailment, the King's College Hospital typically charges between Ksh74,000 and Ksh120,000 (USD 575‑900) as consultation fees per visit.
More importantly, men and women over 40 can also go for an executive health check at the hospital, which can cost up to 3700 United Arab Emirates Dirham (approximately Ksh130,000) for men and 4,200 (AED) or Ksh148,000 for women.
For patients over 60, physical check-ups can cost up to AED 5800 (Ksh204,000) if the patient is paying cash.
Speculations
While ODM accused the opposition of singling out Eugene Wamalwa, Rigathi Gachagua and Kalonzo Musyoka over the rumours that Raila was hospitalised, the rumours remain about the health of the party patron and long-time politician.
Gachagua has suggested that Raila appear in a public event to quell the rumours. He added, "My prayer is that God gives Raila a long life and good health. I pray to God that he supports William Ruto so that we defeat both of them in 2027."
