Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has come out with another bold claim against his former boss President William Ruto as he alleged the Head-of State was part of the individuals keen on splitting the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Speaking in Gatundu South, Kiambu County, on January 11, where he attended a church service, Gachagua disclosed an alleged plan by the president to undermine the ODM, which has been among the most popular parties in the country for the past 20 years.
He alleged that Ruto had sent Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho to demand the party leader position in the party. Upon denial, he should start his own party in the Coast, one of the regions that has traditionally been an ODM stronghold.
Gachagua also claimed that the exact instructions were given to Co-operatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya, in efforts to divide ODM.
"He has decided to divide and finish ODM. He has instructed Joho and Oparanya to demand being party leaders. If they are not made party leaders, they should start their own parties. Ruto want to make ODM a luo party," Gachagua stated.
The former DP, however, downplayed other claims associating former president Uhuru Kenyatta with the battles within ODM, noting that the former president needed to be respected and warned ODM against attacking Kenyatta.
He also accused President Ruto of sending ODM members to attack Kenyatta, vowing to ensure the attacks on the former president come to an end.
"Uhuru Kenyatta tried to help Raila become the president, but you, ODM people, refused to turn out and vote, and Raila failed. Uhuru is not the problem of ODM. Don't be used by Ruto to slam Uhuru," he added.
His comments follow blame games going round in the ODM party concerning the party leadership and ODM's loss in the 2022 general elections.
Some leaders in ODM have blamed Kenyatta for Raila's loss, citing a con game, especially in agents' payments. Notably, ODM's secretary, Gebnerak Edwin Sifuna, has stood in solidarity with Kenyatta, accusing some party members of messing with the funds meant for agents in the 2022 elections.
Additionally, during Raila's supposed 81st birthday celebration in Mombasa, Coast leaders demanded that Joho be named the ODM party leader. They said Joho has been Raila's most loyal soldier and that the region had supported the party for years.
The leaders warned that if Joho is not made the party leader, they would forge their own political path, while some members called for a national delegates committee (NDC) to try and stop the infighting in ODM.
During the church service in Gatundu, Gachagua showered Uhuru with praises and wished him a peaceful retirement. However, he noted that should the opposition require Uhuru's support, they will call him and seek his guidance.
"I wish Uhuru a very peaceful retirement. We are not disturbing him now. He has the right to associate with anybody. That is his democratic right. For now, we are managing, and we are okay. But if need be, we will request Hilton come from retirement and help us," he added.
