NAIROBI, Kenya- Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called for public inquests into what he described as unresolved and questionable high-profile deaths in Kenya during the past four years.
Gachagua made the demand on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, while delivering his assessment of President William Ruto’s four years in office.
He specifically raised questions over the deaths of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, former Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno and former Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla.
Gachagua called on the Director of Public Prosecutions to exercise his powers and initiate inquiries into the deaths.
“The DPP must use his powers and establish an inquest on these unresolved murders over the last four years,” Gachagua said.
Questions over Raila Odinga’s death
Gachagua devoted part of his address to questions surrounding the death of Raila Odinga, saying Kenyans deserved answers over the circumstances preceding his death and the handling of his final days.
He questioned why Odinga’s personal doctors were allegedly not allowed access to him during his final hours and raised questions over the medical team that treated the former Prime Minister.
Gachagua also questioned the decision to have Odinga travel to India for treatment and the circumstances surrounding his burial.
He further asked why a post-mortem examination had not been conducted, according to his account, and questioned who accompanied Odinga during the trip.
Gachagua said the questions surrounding Odinga’s death should be subjected to an independent public inquiry rather than being left unresolved.
Claims over Johana Ng’eno helicopter crash
Gachagua also raised fresh allegations regarding the death of former Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno, who died in a helicopter crash.
He claimed that intelligence information available to him pointed to questions surrounding the aviation fuel used by the helicopter.
According to Gachagua, the helicopter stopped to refuel in Eldoret after dropping Ng’eno at Endebess.
He alleged that the fuel had been transported from Lodwar and claimed Kenya Revenue Authority officials at the airfield became suspicious of the vehicle that had delivered it.
Gachagua further alleged that the driver was detained and questioned before officials at the airstrip were allegedly instructed from Nairobi to release him.
He claimed the fuel could have affected the helicopter’s ability to gain altitude.
Gachagua challenged authorities to produce CCTV footage from the Eldoret airstrip from the day of the incident.
He also asked what Cabinet Secretary for Interior Kipchumba Murkomen knew about the alleged intervention involving the KRA and police officials.
Gachagua presented the claims as matters requiring investigation and called for the relevant authorities to establish what happened.
Questions over General Ogolla’s death
The DCP leader also revisited the death of former Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla, who died alongside other military personnel in a helicopter crash in 2024.
Gachagua criticised the government for what he said was the failure to release the aircraft accident investigation report to the public.
He argued that Ogolla’s position as the country’s top military officer and his death while on active duty made the matter one of significant public interest.
“What do you know about Gen Francis Ogolla’s death?” Gachagua asked President Ruto.
He also questioned the aircraft’s mechanical condition at the time of the flight.
Gachagua said the circumstances surrounding the deaths should not be treated as political issues but should instead be subjected to proper investigation.
He called for a public inquest into the deaths of Odinga, Ng’eno, Ogolla and other high-profile deaths that he said remained unresolved.
The remarks form part of Gachagua’s wider criticism of the Ruto administration over accountability, security and the rule of law.
Gachagua has increasingly positioned his DCP as part of the opposition effort to challenge Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election.
