Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a blistering attack on ODM leaders, dismissing claims that he could work with the party and declaring that the ODM that once existed is already dead.
Gachagua was responding to remarks by ODM Minority Leader Junet Mohamed suggesting that the party would not work with him unless he changed his political approach.
But Gachagua’s response was uncompromising, “Ati Gachagua hawezi fanya kazi na ODM, ODM gani? ODM iliisha.”
The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader claimed the party had effectively been dismantled after sections of its leadership entered into cooperation with President William Ruto.
“ODM mliuzia Ruto ile shell. ODM ile yenyewe ilienda na Sifuna, Babu Owino na Orengo na ile ODM ya Maasai, Rigathi ameenda nayo.”
Gachagua went further, claiming that ODM’s political network had already shifted towards his side.
“MCA’s wote wa ODM, wanachama wa ODM Narok, Kajiado, wako DCP. ODM iliisha, Ruto aliimaliza kitambo.”
He then turned his fire directly on Junet, accusing him and other ODM leaders of being responsible for what he described as the party’s collapse.
“Huyu Junet ndio waliuzia Ruto ODM.”
Gachagua’s remarks come amid an increasingly bitter political exchange between him and Junet.
The ODM lawmaker has in recent days openly confronted Gachagua, accusing him of transferring the hostility he once directed at the late Raila Odinga towards him.
Gachagua also revisited the events surrounding Raila’s death, directing accusations at Junet, Oburu Oginga and Gladys Wanga.
He claimed that after Raila died in India, the three leaders failed to immediately travel to bring his body home and instead moved quickly to reorganise the party.
“Siku Raila alikufia India, badala Oburu, Junet na Wanga waingie ndege waende wakamlete walibaki, kabla mwili haijafika walipatia Oburu ODM.”Gachagua said in part.
Gachagua invoked Luo and African cultural traditions to criticise what he portrayed as the speed with which ODM leadership was reorganised following Raila’s death.
“Katika mila na desturi za Waluo na Waafrika huwezi gawa kabla mwili haijafika.”
He then accused Junet, Wanga and Oburu of selling ODM to Ruto while leaving the President with what he described as an empty political shell.
“Wenye wameuza ODM ni Junet, Wanga na Oburu, lakini wameumiza Ruto ameuziwa kitu hakuna because ile ODM yenyewe imeenda.”
The explosive remarks deepen an already widening political confrontation between Gachagua and the ODM camp.
Junet has previously insisted that ODM has nationwide support and has pushed back against Gachagua’s attempts to portray the party as finished.
Gachagua’s latest intervention, however, takes the battle a step further.
