Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has expressed admiration for the leadership of the late Raila Odinga, commending his political strategy and the enduring strength of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.
Speaking at the Ngemi ya Watho festival hosted by the legal fraternity from the GEMA region in Thika, Gachagua said he was particularly inspired by two aspects of Odinga’s legacy; the resilience of ODM and Raila’s ability to remain politically influential despite never occupying the presidency.
“Look at the political party he built called ODM; a strong political party that, though he was never elected president, he was able to get into every government and get what he wanted because he had a strong political party,” Gachagua remarked.
He further praised the calibre of leaders within ODM, noting that many of them were accomplished legal minds who had consistently defended and supported Odinga’s political journey over the decades.
“In his party, all legislators are top-notch lawyers. These are the people who protected Raila Odinga for 30 years,” he said, citing senior politicians such as James Orengo, the late Otieno Kajwang, Otiende Amollo, Caroli Omondi, Peter Kaluma, Edwin Sifuna, Stewart Madzayo, Catherine Mumma, Millie Odhiambo, Tom Ojienda, Okong’o Omogeni, Mohammed Faki, and Babu Owino, among others.
Contrasting this with his own political experience, Gachagua told his supporters that leadership in the Mt Kenya region lacked equally strong and skilled political “foot soldiers.”
“My people, your leader is in trouble — he has no foot
soldiers. You have given him tugeges, yet you sit here as great minds, and you
can see the lawyers who have stood with Raila,” he said.
Gachagua urged intellectuals and professionals to take an active role in politics rather than shying away from it, arguing that their participation was vital in shaping a more accountable and visionary leadership.
“You are so educated and learned; you must offer yourselves to lead our people, defend them, and make good laws,” he said.
He also called on professionals to join his newly formed Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), saying he aimed to recruit 140 legislators, including at least 40 lawyers, to strengthen the party’s leadership base.
“We cannot say politics is dirty. By staying away, the country remains dirty because of bad governance and poor leadership,” he added.
At the event, Gachagua emphasized that professionals have a moral and civic duty to guide Kenya’s governance.
He warned that failure by the educated class to participate in politics could expose the country to reckless leadership, poor policymaking, and long-term decline in governance standards and global standing.
