Raila: I Am Not Rich, I’m Only Worth 2 Billion Shillings

ODM boss Raila Odinga has denied claims he is a rich man, emphasizing that he is only worth two billion shillings (sh2 b).

“Many people out there are saying I am so rich, which is not true. I think I am only about 2 billion shillings in worth” he responded to a question on his wealth.

Raila was speaking on Sunday in an interview with NTV while his bitter critic Miguna Miguna was on K24 hosted by Ann Kiguta.

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“That is not very rich. That (Sh2 billion) is in terms of properties,” he added, noting that his Karen house is worth about Sh300 million.

The opposition chief disclosed that he also owned shares in some companies but did not mention which ones they are or the value of his ownership in them.

When pressed on what amounts to the richness, Raila avoided a straight response and said his Sh2 billion is not in cash.

Asked if his family had benefitted from his long tenure in politics at the expense of the electorate he represents, he held that they had not received anything that would amount to much.

“There is nothing that the Odingas get from our stay in politics. We don’t benefit anything. What I have told is what we own collectively,” he said.

He added that all of the Odinga descendants are working and living off their own salaries and not benefiting from public coffers as other politicians would do.

“As we sit here, I have no salary that I am earning. My brother is in Arusha. He would not be there if he had other wealth elsewhere which he owns. He would be sitting pretty.”

Raila was making reference to his elder brother Oburu Odinga who is a member of the East African Legislative Assembly based in Arusha, Tanzania.

Raila went on to add that his family shared the little wealth with their constituents, insisting their charity is known to everyone.

“There is nothing which is hidden…Jaramogi died a very poor person. He was in the government for only two and half years. We have inherited very little from him.”

He drew memories to his father’s humble life before revealing more about his family’s wealth.

“I started my own business which is employing people in Industrial Area in Nairobi. Whatever we have done is in very good faith. We have invested in the molasses industry which is not working right now as the sugar mills are not working.”

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At the same interview, Raila questioned the source of Deputy President William Ruto’s wealth. He said a lifestyle audit on the second in command would show that Ruto’s wealth is questionable.

The host posed a question to the ODM leader on whether he would work with Ruto, to which he said he would, only if the DP shared his values.

He said Ruto’s source of wealth cannot be explained, making it impossible to work with him.

“Before I get into any relationship, I will question.” He added, noting that Ruto leading the country as President is not impossible as he would have won an election, chosen by the people.

While Raila’s comments on the DP are unexpected, it remains to be seen whether he will indeed work with him if he declares his wealth.

The two have recently been political rivals, a relationship that fell frostier with Raila’s newfound unity pact with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Raila was non-committal on whether he would be seeking an elective post in the next General Elections and denied that the BBI was aimed at expanding the executive to accommodate some people.

Raila said 2022 was not a topic he wanted to discuss as at the moment as his focus and that of President Uhuru Kenyatta was in championing inclusivity, dismissing the claims that he was using the BBI process for his own political growth.

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