Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has detailed why he did not attend the state funeral of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Nyayo National Stadium or the subsequent burial in Bondo, citing credible threats to his safety and potential risks to national cohesion.
Speaking in an interview on Ramogi TV on Wednesday evening, Gachagua, who leads the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), said intelligence reports indicated organized plans to attack him during both events. He claimed such incidents were designed to ignite ethnic tensions between the Luo and Kikuyu communities.
“I had planned to go to the Nyayo National Stadium, and I got information that some goons had been arranged to attack me so that it could create conflict between the Luo nation and the Kikuyu nation,” Gachagua said.
He explained that attending under such conditions could have risked disrupting a solemn occasion for Odinga’s family and supporters.
Security Concerns and Past Incidents
Gachagua alleged that attacks on him in Nairobi, including incidents in Kariobangi and Mwiki, were orchestrated by a senior politician from the Luo Nyanza region, who he claims also organized goon squads to heckle Siaya Governor James Orengo.
“I have my own intelligence, so when I learnt that also in Bondo there were plans to attack me physically as a strategy to create a wedge between the Luo nation and the Kikuyu nation… I refrained from attending,” he said.
He emphasized that he enjoys goodwill in the Nyanza region, citing previous visits with former President William Ruto that received warm receptions in Migori, Homa Bay, Siaya, and Kisumu.
Respecting Family Traditions
Regarding why he has not yet visited Raila Odinga’s home in Bondo, Gachagua said he has reached out to the family and is awaiting an appropriate time.
“I called Mama Ida Odinga and gave her my personal condolences…She told us that things were still quite heavy and at an appropriate time she will give us an answer. We’re still waiting,” he stated. He added that out of respect for family customs, he would not enter the home uninvited.
Gachagua maintained that his decisions were motivated by political prudence, personal safety, and a desire to prevent chaos, describing the situation as a delicate balance between public duty and respect for cultural and familial norms.
