Amid ongoing speculation among some Kenyans that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is receiving secret treatment abroad, Moses Kuria has come to his defence.
The former senior economic advisor to President William Ruto took to social media to criticise those spreading the rumours, stating: 'This pains me to the core. Politics is not everything. I hate you all.'
In the statement, Kuria reminisced about visits from Odinga while he had been hospitalised, both in Kenya and Dubai.
"In 2020, during COVID, I was hospitalised for 40 days. Baba Raila Amolo Odinga risked his life and visited me in the hospital," he stated.
"In late 2021 and early 2022, I was hospitalised for 5 months. Baba Raila Amolo Odinga visited me 3 times at Karen Hospital and once in Dubai."
He further hailed the ODM leader as a compassionate man, as this had all happened when they were affiliated with different political movements, with him in Tanga Tanga and Raila in Azimio.
Kuria's defence comes just a day after Raila's wife, Ida Odinga, put the rumours to rest while speaking to Migori residents on Tuesday afternoon, stating that her husband was well and had travelled abroad to take a break from Kenya's political spotlight.
She went on to question how people who are not close to the former Prime Minister could think they knew his health status better than she does.
On Sunday, October 5, the ODM Secretariat had also released a statement assuring Kenyans that Raila was in good health and not in hospital as some sources had alluded, but had taken a routine trip out of the country.
The party accused the United Opposition, led by his former running mate Kalonzo Musyoka and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, of perpetuating the illness rumours for political gain.
"Hon. Raila travelled out of the country on Friday evening-one of the many trips he has made this year, and definitely not the last. He definitely did not travel to Europe as reported by bloggers and broadcast by some media houses. He is not indisposed, as prayed for by his frustrated opponents," the statement read in part.
Since then, more politicians and ODM insiders have come out in his defence, including the ODM Director Phillip Etale, who said on Tuesday, "I have just spoken with Raila Odinga, just under five minutes ago. He is jovial and happy," Etale said. Adding that Raila said, "I am seeing people spreading so much propaganda online, let's keep praying for them."
The rumours had taken a life of their own, including people scrutinising a photo allegedly taken in a health facility in Dubai, where they claimed he was receiving treatment for an undetermined illness.
