Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang'wa in a past event/ COURTESYFormer Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s silence and absence during Raila Odinga’s farewell were not a sign of defiance or indifference, but an act of respect and statesmanship, Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa has said.
In a statement dated October 18, 2025, the senator defended Gachagua’s decision to skip the national farewell ceremony at Nyayo Stadium on Friday, October 17, describing it as “a deliberate show of statesmanship, emotional intelligence, and deep respect for a moment that was bigger than politics.”
Karungo said Gachagua’s decision reflected an understanding of the solemnity of the moment. “Kenya does not stop when Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua chooses silence,” he wrote. “It listens even more closely.”
The senator noted that Gachagua’s presence at the event would have shifted attention from Raila Odinga’s legacy to political speculation. “He knows that his presence alone would have changed the tone of the day, shifting the focus from Raila Odinga’s legacy to endless political interpretations,” the statement read.
According to Karungo, Gachagua’s absence allowed the country to focus on celebrating Raila’s contribution to Kenya’s democracy. “By choosing to step back, Gachagua ensured that the spotlight remained where it truly belonged, on Baba’s journey, sacrifice, and contribution,” he stated.
The senator dismissed claims that the former deputy president’s decision was a show of indifference. “His absence was not indifference. It was reverence,” he wrote. He added that Gachagua and Raila had a long history of both partnership and disagreement in politics.
Karungo said Gachagua intends to honour Odinga privately. “When the right time comes, he will honour Raila, not before a sea of cameras, but in a deeply personal and respectful way, by laying a wreath at his resting place in Bondo,” he said.
He also argued that the public reaction to Gachagua’s absence reflected his political influence. “The fact that the country spent more time discussing who was not at Nyayo Stadium than who was present is proof of the Deputy President’s national significance,” the statement added.\
In conclusion, Karungo praised Gachagua’s restraint, saying it reflected a deeper form of leadership. “Leadership is not measured by how loudly one speaks or how often one appears,” he wrote. “Sometimes silence is not absence. Sometimes, it is leadership.”
Raila died on October 15 in India, while undergoing treatment.
Mourners on Friday came out in numbers to view the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at the Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi.
The event was attended by President William Ruto, Raila's family members and other dignitaries.
He will be buried on Sunday, October 19, in Bondo.
