Najib Balala Breaks Silence After Death Reports

Former Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has broken his silence following reports circulating on social media claiming that he had died.

In a statement on Sunday, September 6, Balala dismissed the reports as false, reassuring members of the public that he is alive and in good health.

"I am well and in good spirits. I am aware of the misleading information that has been circulating, but I want to assure everyone that it is unfounded," he wrote.

Balala also expressed gratitude to God for his protection while thanking those who reached out to him and expressed concern over the reports.

"I thank the Almighty for His mercy and protection. Hasbunallahu wa ni‘mal wakeel - I appreciate the concern and kind thoughts from friends and colleagues," he added.

This comes days after ODM leader Oburu Oginga reassured the public that he is in good health following concerns raised over reports about his condition.

In a statement on Tuesday, September 1, the Siaya Senator said he had seen a report published by a local publication and assured the public that he was well.

"Thank you for your concerns. I have read the Nation’s digital news and wish to state that I am very well," he said.

Oburu clarified that he had only made a brief visit to hospital for a general check-up with his doctors before returning home.

"I had only briefly visited the hospital for a general check-up with my doctors and have since returned home," he added.

Oburu added that being sick was a normal human experience and urged the public not to be alarmed.

"Being sick is a normal human experience and should not alarm anyone. The day I am truly sick, I will inform you all, for I am a very transparent person," he further said.

Prior to that, lawyer Fanya Mambo Kinuthia dismissed social media claims alleging that former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju had died, assuring the public that the veteran politician is alive and in good health.

In an update on Monday, August 3, Kinuthia said he had personally spoken with Tuju twice within the last 24 hours and confirmed that the claims being shared online were false.

"I have seen some idle busybodies with nothing better to do posting a lot of nonsense about Hon. Raphael Tuju. This great man is a personal friend, and I speak to him often. I spoke to him last evening and again this morning. Raphael Tuju is okay. He is fine. He is alive," he wrote.

Kinuthia also recalled a previous incident in which false reports circulated online claiming that veteran journalist Jeff Koinange had died, saying he was forced to publicly correct the misinformation after speaking to Koinange himself.

"These are the same busybodies who once claimed that Jeff Koinange had died. I remember speaking to Jeff that very morning when people were circulating reports of his death. I even had to go live on Hot 96 to inform the nation that Jeff was alive," he added.

Kinuthia appealed to members of the public to refrain from sharing unverified information, particularly reports concerning the health or lives of individuals.

He warned that such misinformation can cause unnecessary anxiety and emotional distress to those affected.

"Let us desist from posting unverified stories, especially those concerning people’s lives and well-being. Such reports cause unnecessary panic, distress friends, and hurt both families and loved ones," he concluded.