Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has dismissed any chance of forming an alliance with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking in Wajir during a consultative forum on Wednesday, March 5, Odinga made it clear that he would not collaborate with a leader who had previously sought to undermine him.
He further criticized Gachagua, recalling past statements in which the former DP openly declared his intent to block Odinga from ever reaching State House.
The Azimio principal’s sentiments were overwhelmingly supported by Wajir residents, who unanimously opposed a possible coalition between him and Gachagua.
“The other man said he had set traps everywhere so that I should not pass and get a handshake, so do you want us to go to the man who set traps for me? I told him that is impossible,” Odinga commented.
According to Raila, despite Gachagua’s initial criticism of him, the former DP has now been sidelined from the government he once cherished and is struggling to remain politically relevant.
“The trap that was set against me did not work, and that is why you saw me at State House alongside other East African leaders, including President Museveni, Samia Suluhu, and Ruto,” Raila noted.
ODM party leader Raila Odinga’s remarks come just two weeks after he launched a nationwide consultative tour to seek public input on his party’s next political direction.
While addressing residents in Wajir, Odinga also urged the swift implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report and the reorganization of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
He emphasized that enforcing the NADCO report was crucial to preventing a repeat of the challenges experienced during the 2022 General Election.
“The NADCO report should be implemented. The implementation of this report is because of the things that took place previously. We decided to sit down with these people so that we can have a conversation about critical issues,” Odinga stated.
He went on to add, “In the future electoral process, we do not want a repeat of what we have been witnessing. We want an electoral body that can conduct credible elections.”
The former Prime Minister further called on President Ruto’s administration to lower the cost of living, noting that most Kenyans were struggling with high taxes and tough economic conditions.
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