Gachagua victim of his own sharp tongue - Raila

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has broken his silence on Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment, saying the former Deputy President was a victim of his acerbic tongue.

Speaking in Vihiga yesterday, Raila said Gachagua’s words finally caught up with him. Raila took issue with Gachagua’s assertions that he had laid traps for him (Raila) at State House and that there would be no handshake between the former PM and President William Ruto.

“You saw recently somebody was saying that he has laid traps everywhere at State House, traps were to prevent any handshake or coalition government. Where is he now?” he posed.

“A trap was set up to catch a mouse, but the one who set up the trap was the one who went down.”

This is the first time the former Prime Minister was talking on Gachagua’s ouster since the former DP was sent parking by both Houses of Parliament.

A record 282 MPs voted to impeach the former Deputy President who was facing a number of accusations, including tribalism and undermining the President.

The former premier also called for unity of the country, saying that is the only way to ensure a cohesive country.

“We want to walk together as a country,” Raila said. Raila was speaking during thanksgiving ceremony for Vihiga Senator Godffrey Osotsi, who was elevated as one of the three ODM deputy party leaders. Others are governors Simba Arati (Kisii) and Abdulswamad Nassir (Mombasa).

The former ODM party leader also drummed up support for the Orange party, saying that is the only way to ensure voices of the people are heard. He also urged the youth to join the party in large numbers to boost its chances of clinching power in the upcoming elections.

“I want to urge the youths to join the party so that in 2027 our party ODM will be forming the next government,” Raila said.

“The party is our weapon; we want to expand the space which is Orange.”

He also told MPs to stop being a hindrance to devolution by creating unnecessary bottlenecks in the county share. Raila was accompanied by a host of ODM top officials and elected leaders from the region.