Gachagua to Raila: You’ll shed prime tears if you stick with Ruto
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has warned Raila Odinga that his political dalliance with President William Ruto would end with a bitter betrayal for him.
In a fiery speech during the launch of Martha Karua’s People’s Liberation Party (PLP) on Thursday, February 27, 2025, Gachagua recalled how Ruto betrayed him as he cautioned Raila against his engagements with the president.
Gachagua, who was ousted as deputy president following an impeachment motion backed by a coalition of ODM and Kenya Kwanza lawmakers, recalled his own bitter fallout with Ruto.
He claimed the president had openly admitted to manipulating Raila for political gain, particularly in securing ODM’s support.
“Ata hii mzee yetu Tinga atamgonga, hio mzee atamchanganya wee utaona. Na [Ruto] aliniambia ‘hii mzee wachia mimi’. Siku alikua anapanga kuenda AU nkamuuliza ‘agenda yako na hii mzee ni gani? Akasema ‘wacha hii mzee ntapanga ye. Hii mzee ntapanga ye kidogo kidogo nipeleke ye AU nini nini nichukue ODM’. And I can see it’s happening,” Gachagua said.
The former deputy president urged Raila to ditch Ruto and consider joining the opposition coalition which is angling to remove the incumbent from power ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“So wee bwana Tinga you are listening to people who have experience with that man. Sababu wewe ni mzee wetu na uliumia, we want to give you a small tip – huyo mtu achana na yeye. Mukimalizana utakuja hapa unalia vile sisi tunalia. We know him and that is exactly what will happen,” Gachagua said.
Raila is the kingmaker in the 2027 polls as he comes with four voting blocks, Nyanza, Western, Coast and Nairobi, which have traditionally voted for him overwhelmingly since the 2007 elections.
Gachagua has been making overtures to Raila in recent days, suggesting that he would even support the veteran opposition leader should he decide to run in 2027.
During a KTN interview on Monday, February 24, 2025, Gachagua emphasized his willingness to work with any leader committed to Kenya’s future, distancing himself from the Kenya Kwanza administration he once served.
“I am open to working with anybody who means well for the country. I want to tell supporters of Raila from Nyanza not to fight the people from Mt. Kenya because we are not their enemies,” he stated.
Gachagua clarified that his opposition was not directed at Raila personally but at the current government’s leadership.
He also sought to dispel the perception that Mount Kenya voters were against Raila, dismissing viral images of Kirinyaga residents celebrating his loss in the AU Commission bid as not representative of the region’s stance.
“Some people are blaming the people of Mt Kenya for the loss just because a few women in Kirinyaga celebrated his loss. We have no problem with Raila. After consulting in 450 meetings in the last four months, people have asked me to look for friends,” Gachagua said.
With the 2027 elections on the horizon, the political landscape is shifting rapidly.
Gachagua, who has been working closely with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and DAP-K’s Eugene Wamalwa, has been pushing for a united opposition front against Ruto.
His outreach to Raila signals the possibility of a major realignment, one that could alter the trajectory of the next election.
Whether Raila heeds Gachagua’s warning or continues engaging with Ruto remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the battle lines for 2027 are already being drawn.
Author
Martin Oduor
The alchemist of literary works - a master wordsmith with a proven record of transforming the raw materials of language into a rich tapestry of emotion, thought, and imagination.
View all posts by Martin Oduor
