Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused some Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders of betraying the political legacy of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying the party has lost its former strength barely a year after his death.
In a statement marking the first anniversary of Raila’s death, Gachagua described ODM as a “pale shadow” of its former self, blaming its current leadership for weakening one of the veteran opposition leader’s greatest political legacies.
Gachagua said he had been invited by Raila’s widow, Ida Odinga, to attend the commemorative event but was unable to do so because he was in the United States on a previously scheduled programme.
He thanked Ida for the invitation and described Raila as “the father of our democracy and defender of the rights of Kenyans”.
The former Deputy President also revisited his remarks during Raila’s inauguration as Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission chairperson, insisting that his praise for the former Prime Minister and his widow had been genuine.
Gachagua criticised politicians who had previously insulted Raila but were now publicly celebrating his legacy following his death.
“I am a firm believer in giving a man his flowers when he is alive and hearing,” he said, condemning what he termed political pretence and “crocodile tears”.
He cited past derogatory labels directed at Raila, including “mchawi”, “mganga” and “mtu ya kung’oa reli”, arguing that some politicians who had demeaned the former Prime Minister were now portraying themselves as his admirers.
Gachagua praised Raila for building a formidable political party and encouraging his supporters to elect quality legislators, saying he intended to adopt a similar approach in growing his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
He said his ambition was to transform DCP into a strong political movement capable of influencing Kenya’s political discourse for years to come.
The former Deputy President added that he had urged DCP members and Kenyans to elect quality legislators and reject leaders he referred to as “tugeges”.
However, he expressed concern over what he described as ODM’s decline, accusing some of its current leaders of undermining the party and betraying Raila’s political legacy.
“It is a pity, just one year after his death, that his greatest legacy, the ODM party, is now a pale shadow of its former self,” Gachagua said.
He further accused unnamed individuals of having “sold ODM” and contributing to the party’s weakening. He also claimed that those he blamed for the party’s decline had failed to attend Raila’s first anniversary commemoration.
Gachagua, however, did not provide details to substantiate the allegations.
His remarks have added to the debate over ODM’s future direction and leadership following Raila’s death, as political leaders continue to stake competing claims over the legacy of the long-serving opposition chief.
He concluded his statement with a tribute to the late former Prime Minister, saying: “Rest Well Jakom!”
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