Kenya PM Odinga says "fit as a fiddle"

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said he is in good health and refuted claims he was hospitalised after developing health complications.

He termed a report published in The People newspaper that he was admitted to Nairobi Hospital on his return from a campaign rally in Narok Friday as "malicious propaganda".

“You can see me and attest that I am in good health and fit as a fiddle,” Mr Odinga said at Uhuru Park, Nairobi Saturday as he sought to reassure his supporters.

The People had reported that a close Odinga family source had told the publication that the PM was admitted to hospital at around 8pm Friday and was due to the spend the night.

The source said Mr Odinga had suddenly fell ill when he arrived home from the Narok rally.

Mr Odinga was speaking at Uhuru Park grounds where he flagged off a caravan that will help mobilise Kenyans in different parts of the country to register as voters that had been organised by local vernacular radio stations and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The PM said he had not visited any hospital since he was discharged from Nairobi Hospital two years ago, where he underwent head surgery.

Just to illustrate that he was in perfect health, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader announced a busy and engaging campaign schedule saying he would hold campaign rallies starting in Transmara Saturday, Loitokitok on Sunday culminating in a rally in Mombasa to canvass votes for the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord).

Mr Odinga asked Kenyans to take advantage of the remaining four days to beat the deadline for voter registration, to enlist to vote in next year’s election, repeating the call that bad leaders are elected by good voters who refuse to vote.

The PM said the Cord coalition was growing from strength to strength and would win the next polls in the first round, drawing the football analogy that the game would end in 90 minutes with no extra time.