Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua announced that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will continue enjoying privileges as a former government official under the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Speaking during an official tour in HomaBay County on Friday, January 13, the DP indicated that President William Ruto had already made plans to ensure that the same was effected.
Gachagua expressed that the current administration did not have a problem with the ODM boss noting that his previous hard stance against the Azimio leader was only politics.
"The Governor (Gladys Wanga) has said that you are Raila people and that is true. Who is he for? He is also ours and if you are his people then you are also our people.
"We do not have a problem with him. Isn't the elections over? It was all about elections. Raila will be respected in this government. His security and all other needs will be catered for and Ruto will see to it," he stated.
He asserted that Raila was a national leader and that his services would be beneficial to Kenyans.
On the other hand, he refuted claims that they would be biased towards the Lake region even as he paraded a number of government officials that had been appointed in the current administration.
"The President loves you so much despite what happened in the election and if you want to know that he loves you, just look at the appointments he made," he stated.
Gachagua spoke after Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga addressed the crowd where she called on Ruto to appoint more people from Raila's backyard.
"I know that the DP has stated that those who were on the other side will enjoy the benefits of the win later, but I really want to urge you to pick more brilliant minds from this area," she stated.
On his part, the President pledged to continue working with all elected leaders regardless of their political affiliation.
He stated that he was more concerned with promoting economic development across the whole country even as he hinted at more political engagements in the future.
Gachagua took a different tone when speaking about the former premier. On previous occasions, he has teased Raila over his loss in the 2022 General Election.
“I watched President Ruto inspect the pass-out parade in quick time and wondered what would have been the future of our parades if things had gone the other way,” the DP stated during the pass-out parade for Administration Police at Embakasi.
