ODM leader Raila Odinga’s family has come out to dispel rumours the former Prime Minister was in poor health.
Raila’s sister Ruth Adhiambo told the Star Raila is fit and is steadily recovering from the Covid-19 attack.
Ruth spent Saturday with her brother at his Karen home in Nairobi and shared pictures to confirm Raila was steady.
She said the AU envoy was "strong, remains upbeat, and is eating well."
“Raila is doing well generally. Let us not involve ourselves in acts of speculation. Let people pray for him to recover and finish his quarantine period,” Ruth said.
Ruth said Raila spends most of his time walking around his compound - where he is isolated and is under the care of his wife Ida Odinga and daughter Winnie.
Ruth dismissed social media insinuations that Raila could have quietly been moved to another hospital outside the country.
There were also claims on Thursday to the effect that the ODM leader had been readmitted to hospital, assertions which turned out to be false.
Ruth said that the ODM leader, 76, has chosen to remain in isolation and reduced his activities in respect of the mandatory 14-day quarantine for persons who contract Covid-19.
“He takes turns to sit outside his room for fresh air, sometimes basking in the sun,” she said.
The family, Ruth said, has not received visitors as is typical of Raila’s hospitality.
The former Kisumu deputy governor said she got close to her brother “having suffered an attack before, but still took precautions.”
Ruth, Raila’s brother Oburu Oginga, and the latter’s son, are among members of the Odinga family who have contracted Covid-19 in the past five months.
Raila was discharged the other weekend after spending five days at Nairobi Hospital. He had checked in after complaining of fatigue from a gruelling five-day Coast tour, and has since taken a break from his political activities.
After leaving hospital, the ODM leader posted on his social media pages a video of him doing physical exercise. He promised to follow the doctors’ guidelines.
“Winnie and Ida are taking good care of Jakom (as Raila is called by his family) who is just waiting for the quarantine period to end,” Ruth told the Star on Sunday.
She said she chose to publish pictures of herself and Raila following the claims the latter was very sick, adding that people have been calling to inquire about the ODM leader’s health.
“Someone from Tanzania who had seen the photos called me when we were together to inquire about his health. We gave Raila the phone to speak with him.”
Some sources within the family intimated to the Star that the ODM leader is contemplating attending the burial of Tanzanian President John Magufuli once he completes his quarantine time.
“He is observing the time-frame for isolation after which he may attend the burial of his friend Magufuli if the doctors say the move would be ok,” the source said.
Kenya is currently experiencing a third wave of Covid-19 infections, the positivity ranging at between 11 to 13 per cent.
