HOMA BAY, Kenya — ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga has criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his recent questions about the death of former Prime Minister and ODM leader Raila Odinga, telling him to allow the late opposition chief to rest and stop invoking his name in political campaigns.
Speaking during a development tour at Nyakiamo Stadium on Wednesday, the Homa Bay Governor accused Gachagua of disrespecting Raila and mocking the Luo community by repeatedly raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Wanga said Gachagua had been a fierce critic of Raila while he was alive and accused the former Deputy President of supporting government actions against the opposition leader during anti-government demonstrations.
“Leave Baba Raila Amolo Odinga alone to rest in peace in heaven. We have not forgotten that one day you woke up at 5:00 AM and said that if Raila goes to protests, you yourself will kill him,” Wanga said.
She further referred to an incident in which Raila’s vehicle was struck by bullets during protests.
“That day, Baba’s car was hit by ten bullets! They almost killed him. You, Gachagua, said Baba must be sent back to Bondo. That it was the only job you had left,” she said.
Wanga accuses Gachagua of political opportunism
Wanga questioned Gachagua’s decision to raise issues surrounding Raila’s death months after the former Prime Minister’s passing, arguing that the former Deputy President had not visited the family to offer condolences.
“You have never set foot where Baba Raila Amolo Odinga is buried. You have never set foot in Karen to offer your condolences to Mama Ida Odinga,” she said.
The ODM chairperson accused Gachagua of repeatedly making what she described as rumours, inflammatory statements and allegations about Raila’s death since his burial.
“But every day, ever since Baba was laid to rest, you wake up every single day with rumors, chaos, lies, malice, reckless statements, careless statements, useless statements, in the name of Baba Raila Amolo Odinga!” she said.
“We want to tell you Gachagua, do your politics without touching the name of Baba Raila Amolo Odinga!”
Gachagua questions Raila’s death
Wanga’s remarks followed a media briefing by Gachagua on Tuesday at the Democratic Congress Party (DCP) headquarters, where he questioned the circumstances surrounding several high-profile deaths.
Gachagua raised questions about the death of Raila, Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla and former Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno.
Regarding Raila, Gachagua questioned aspects of his medical care and the circumstances surrounding his final days, including why some of his personal doctors allegedly did not have access to him, the medical team that accompanied him to India and the decision to fly him there by private jet.
He also questioned the swift political changes within ODM following Raila’s death and asked why a postmortem examination had not been conducted.
Gachagua separately called for greater transparency over the deaths of Ogolla and Ng’eno, arguing that unresolved questions surrounding the cases should be addressed through formal investigations.
ODM rules out Gachagua alliance
Wanga dismissed Gachagua’s remarks as reckless and potentially inflammatory, warning against what she described as attempts to use Raila’s death for political mobilisation.
She also ruled out an alliance between ODM and Gachagua’s DCP ahead of the 2027 General Election, saying the former Deputy President’s political approach was based on exclusion.
The governor maintained that ODM would approach the next election from a position of strength and expressed confidence that the party would win several elective positions across the country.
Her comments come as political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, with ODM already entering a formal electoral cooperation arrangement with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza alliance.
