NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has revealed plans to draw lessons from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) as he works on launching his own political party.
Speaking in a media interview, Gachagua praised ODM leader Raila Odinga for building a resilient political machine that has remained influential for two decades.
He expressed admiration for the caliber of leaders elected under the ODM banner and said he intends to seek Odinga’s advice on how to replicate such a structure.
“We may have had our differences with Raila, but give it to him—he built a serious political machine that has lasted 20 years. The quality of leaders ODM produces is admirable, and I will be going to ODM for benchmarking,” Gachagua stated.
The former DP, who has signaled his intention to challenge the dominance of President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in the Mt Kenya region, said he has two years to put together a formidable political force ahead of the 2027 elections.
Gachagua also hinted at possible political realignments, saying he is open to working with Odinga and other leaders who share his vision for the country’s future.
However, he insisted that any coalition he joins must safeguard the interests of his supporters, an apparent reference to his fallout with Ruto’s UDA.
“I will ensure that whatever coalition we enter, our interests are firmly anchored in a water-tight agreement. I won’t repeat the mistakes of 2022,” he said.
Gachagua further claimed that several Mt Kenya leaders have expressed willingness to abandon UDA for his new party, which he expects to launch around May this year.
