NAIROBI, Kenya – Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa has defended former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s absence from Raila Odinga’s national farewell ceremony, describing it as a gesture of “statesmanship and emotional intelligence.”
In a statement issued on Saturday, October 18, 2025, Karungo dismissed claims that Gachagua’s silence and non-attendance at the Nyayo Stadium event on Friday were a sign of defiance or indifference.
“Kenya does not stop when Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua chooses silence,” the senator said. “It listens even more closely.”
According to Karungo, Gachagua deliberately chose to stay away to preserve the solemnity of the moment and allow the nation to focus fully on Raila Odinga’s legacy.
“He knew his presence alone would have shifted attention from Baba’s legacy to political speculation. By choosing to step back, he ensured the spotlight remained on Raila’s journey, sacrifice, and contribution to Kenya’s democracy,” Karungo said.
He added that Gachagua’s decision reflected “a deep understanding that leadership is not always about visibility, but about timing and sensitivity.”
Karungo also revealed that Gachagua plans to honour the late ODM leader privately.
“When the right time comes, he will honour Raila not before a sea of cameras, but in a deeply personal way — by laying a wreath at his resting place in Bondo,” he said.
WHY GACHAGUA CHOSE RESPECT OVER OPTICS.By Sen. Karungo wa Thang’wa October 18, 2025Kenya does not stop when Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua chooses silence, it listens even more closely. His absence from Baba’s farewell was not an act of defiance, weakness, or guilt. It was
The senator further argued that the intense public debate over Gachagua’s absence underscored his continued political significance.
“The fact that the country spent more time discussing who was not at Nyayo Stadium than who was present is proof of his national relevance,” Karungo stated.
He concluded by describing Gachagua’s restraint as “a mark of maturity and leadership.”
“Sometimes silence is not absence. Sometimes, it is leadership,” he wrote.
Raila Odinga, Kenya’s former Prime Minister and veteran opposition leader, died on October 15 while undergoing treatment in India.
Thousands of mourners gathered at Nyayo Stadium on Friday to pay their last respects. The event was attended by President William Ruto, members of Raila’s family, and several foreign dignitaries.
Odinga will be laid to rest on Sunday, October 19, in his rural home in Bondo, Siaya County.
