Tigania West MP John Mutunga has said Raila Odinga cannot be blamed for former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s woes.
Speaking during a morning TV show on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, Mutunga observed that Gachagua had manufactured his own crisis and Odinga could not be blamed for his ouster in October 2024.
“We all know why Gachagua was impeached. It has nothing to do with Raila. Zero. Gachagua had his own issues which he had to deal with. We saw then Deputy President William Ruto under very difficult circumstances surviving, remaining DP and ascending to the presidency because he was resilient,” Mutunga remarked.
“He realized his position, acted according to his position and never confronted the president or tried to correct him on things that were obvious. You need to be meek as a leader and order your steps carefully. So, we cannot blame Raila for Gachagua’s woes. It could be very wrong.”
Gakuya blames Raila
Mutunga was responding to remarks made by Embakasi North MP James Gakuya who observed that Gachagua could have still been in office if Raila had not supported Ruto.
“Without Raila’s support, Gachagua could still be the Deputy President of this country. So, he (Raila) has made some people casualties,” Gakuya said, “People who fought very vigorously for this country to attain what he has today. Therefore, he is coming in to eat fruits he never fought for.”
Raila and Ruto cemented their working agreement in a 10-point pact signed on March 7, 2025, where pundits opine could involve a 2027 re-election support which ODM has denied.
2027 not guaranteed
Gakuya equally states that Raila’s endorsement would still not guarantee Ruto the presidency in 2027, after their acrimonious fallout with Gachagua whom they jointly rode with into victory in the 2022 polls against Raila.
“There is no single approval that Raila plus William (Ruto) is a victory in 2027, and if that is the game, then Kenya will teach them otherwise,” Gakuya observed.
The political pact between Raila and Ruto has generated mixed reactions from different quarters, with the former Deputy President’s allies getting purged from key House committee leadership positions to create space for ODM MPs.
On Sunday, March 9, 2025, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka termed the recent political development as a betrayal of Kenyans’ trust, urging politicians to repent.
“There is betrayal all over, brother betraying brother, but very interesting betrayal is that of politicians. Please pray for them, and I am one of them. I don’t like the word politician, I would rather be a leader, but this lot in politics, I think we should all be gotten hold of, taken to Uhuru Park and repent together with the nation,” Kalonzo said.
