NAIROBI, Kenya- Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has challenged President William Ruto to explain the circumstances surrounding the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, while demanding public inquests into unresolved high-profile deaths in Kenya over the past four years.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Democratic Congress Party (DCP) headquarters on Tuesday, Gachagua congratulated Ruto for what he described as the President’s success in fulfilling a political promise to defeat Raila and dismantle the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
“We give credit to where it is due… there is one promise Mr William Ruto made to the people of Kenya and he has delivered 100 per cent. Congratulations, Mr President,” Gachagua said.
“Mr Ruto, you promised to permanently retire the late Prime Minister Rt Hon Raila Odinga in Bondo, and finish ODM. You have succeeded in both. Odinga is permanently retired in Bondo and ODM is no more,” he added.
Gachagua then raised a series of questions about Odinga’s final days and medical treatment, saying Kenyans deserved greater clarity over what happened before his death.
He questioned why Odinga’s personal doctors were allegedly denied access to him during his final hours and why doctors from Nairobi West Hospital were involved in his care.
“Why were the medical doctors of the late Prime Minister denied access to him at the last hours? Why did he have doctors from Nairobi West Hospital, a hospital closely associated with William Ruto, rather than his own doctors?” Gachagua asked.
He also questioned whether instructions from Odinga’s personal medical team were ignored and why the former Prime Minister was taken to India on a private jet.
“Why was he forced to go to India through a private jet? Why did the President force Raila Odinga to go to India?” he asked.
Gachagua further questioned the circumstances surrounding the transition of ODM leadership following Odinga’s death, arguing that the process appeared to move unusually quickly.
“Why was his party ODM taken over before his body arrived in the country despite the known African customs that you don’t inherit a man or woman before they are buried?” he said.
He also asked whether Ruto had any role in Odinga’s affairs after his death and questioned whether a postmortem examination had been conducted.
“Was Ruto anywhere an executor of Raila’s will? And why was there no postmortem done on the body of Raila Odinga?” Gachagua asked.
Questions Over General Ogolla’s Death
Gachagua also renewed calls for transparency over the death of former Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla and other unresolved deaths.
He argued that Ogolla’s death while serving as the country’s military commander warranted full disclosure from the government.
“To date, the Commander-in-Chief has refused to release a report on the aircraft crash that killed General Ogolla. General Ogolla was not an ordinary citizen, he died in active duty,” Gachagua said.
He directly questioned Ruto over the circumstances in which Ogolla travelled in the military aircraft that crashed.
“What do you know about General Ogolla’s death? Are you ready to tell the country why you allowed General Ogolla to travel in a Bell Huey helicopter with a questionable mechanical status?” he asked.
Gachagua’s remarks referred to the April 2024 military helicopter crash in which Ogolla and other senior Kenya Defence Forces officers were killed.
He said the government should provide answers on unresolved deaths rather than leaving families and the public to rely on speculation.
Call for Public Inquests
Gachagua called on the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to use its investigative and legal powers to initiate public inquests into high-profile deaths that remain unresolved.
“The DPP must use his powers and begin a public inquest into these unresolved murders of the last four years,” he said.
He framed the demand as part of what he described as growing public pressure for accountability and transparency over deaths involving prominent Kenyans.
The allegations and questions raised by Gachagua would require independent investigations and documentary or forensic evidence to establish whether any wrongdoing occurred.
