Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused some Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders of undermining the political legacy of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, claiming the party has weakened barely a year after his death.
In a statement posted on X, Gachagua said he was unable to attend the first anniversary of Raila’s death because he was in the United States on a previously scheduled programme.
Gachagua thanked Raila’s widow, Ida Odinga, for inviting him to the anniversary commemorations and paid tribute to the former Prime Minister, describing him as a defender of democracy and the rights of Kenyans.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader said he wished to honour Raila by recalling his remarks during the former Prime Minister’s inauguration as Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission chairperson position.
Gachagua said his praise for Raila and Ida Odinga on that occasion had been sincere, arguing that leaders should recognise and appreciate others while they are still alive.
He criticised politicians who, according to him, had previously used derogatory descriptions against Raila but were now publicly celebrating his legacy following his death.
The former Deputy President also praised Raila for building a strong political party and encouraging voters to elect quality legislators, saying he was seeking to emulate that approach as he builds DCP into a formidable political movement.
However, Gachagua accused some leaders of presiding over the decline of ODM, arguing that the party had become a shadow of its former self.
He further claimed that individuals he accused of betraying Raila’s political interests had contributed to the weakening of the party and questioned their absence from the first-anniversary commemorations.
Raila, who served as Kenya’s Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013, remained one of the country’s most influential political figures for decades, with a legacy associated with the struggle for multiparty democracy, constitutional reform and opposition politics.
