Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has ruled out the possibility of working with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Addressing Wajir residents during a consultative forum on Wednesday, March 5, Odinga clarified that he could never work with a politician who once wished for his downfall.
Odinga went ahead to take a swipe at the former DP, referencing Gachagua’s past remarks in which he vowed to set traps to prevent him from accessing State House.
The Azimio principal’s sentiments were overwhelmingly supported by Wajir residents, who unanimously opposed a possible coalition between him and Gachagua.
“The other man said he had set traps everywhere so that I should not pass and get a handshake, so do you want us to go to the man who set traps for me? I told him that is impossible,” Odinga commented.
According to Raila, despite Gachagua’s initial criticism of him, the former DP has now been sidelined from the government he once cherished and is struggling to remain politically relevant.
"The trap that was set against me did not work, and that is why you saw me at State House alongside other East African leaders, including President Museveni, Samia Suluhu, and Ruto," Raila noted.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader’s sentiments come barely a fortnight after he commenced his consultative tour across the country to gather public opinion on his party's next political move.
During his tour of Wajir, Odinga also called for the speedy implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report and the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
According to Raila, the push for the implementation of the NADCO report was aimed at preventing a recurrence of the events witnessed during the 2022 General Election.
"The NADCO report should be implemented. The implementation of this report is because of the things that took place previously. We decided to sit down with these people so that we can have a conversation about critical issues," Odinga stated.
He went on to add, "In the future electoral process, we do not want a repeat of what we have been witnessing. We want an electoral body that can conduct credible elections."
The former Prime Minister further called on President Ruto's administration to lower the cost of living, noting that most Kenyans were struggling with high taxes and tough economic conditions.
