Raila Odinga, leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), has dismissed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as a viable alternative to President William Ruto, asserting that neither Gachagua’s leadership nor Ruto’s exit would address Kenya’s challenges.
Speaking at a funeral service in Bomet on July 12, 2025, Raila stated, “Even if you make Rigathi Gachagua the next president, there is no big difference he will bring to this country.
We need to do things afresh,” as reported by Kenyans.co.ke and The Star. His remarks intensify the Raila Odinga vs Gachagua feud and highlight the Kenya political tensions ahead of the 2027 Kenya elections.
Raila’s Critique of Gachagua’s Leadership
Raila’s scathing attack on Gachagua centres on the former deputy president’s record, arguing that his tenure showed no evidence of transformative leadership.
Odinga, addressing the Ruto Must Go protests, cautioned against chants like “Ruto Must Go”, emphasising that removing Ruto without systemic change would be futile.
“Protests and chants will not solve the problems. Even if Ruto leaves, it won’t address the challenges,” he said, advocating for a national dialogue in Kenya to address constitutional gaps.
Raila’s call for an intergenerational dialogue in 2025, involving 40 representatives per county, aims to foster inclusive solutions.
Gachagua, leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), responded during a US diaspora tour in Seattle, dismissing Raila as “inconsequential” in the 2027 polls and claiming his Luo community support is waning.
“Raila is irrelevant in the political discourse because he always finds his way into government without responsibility,” Gachagua said. This Gachagua-Raila rivalry underscores their competing visions, with Gachagua pushing the Wantam agenda for Mount Kenya unity while Raila champions broader Kenyan political reforms.
Political Context and Public Reaction
The Raila Odinga 2025 statements come amid Gachagua’s efforts to reposition himself post-impeachment in October 2024, which Raila’s ODM MPs, including Junet Mohammed, supported.
Junet, in Bomet, warned Gachagua against disrespecting Raila, stating, “Raila has an army of supporters. If released, Gachagua won’t walk in town.”
This reflects the ODM defence of Raila, with MPs like George Aladwa accusing Gachagua of tribal profiling, prompting calls for an NCIC investigation in Kenya.
Public sentiment on mirrors this divide, with some praising Raila’s push for dialogue and others backing Gachagua’s defiance.
Implications for 2027 Elections
Raila’s alliance with Ruto, sealed through the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and ODM appointments to Ruto’s cabinet, has drawn criticism from Gachagua, who claims Raila is distancing himself from Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government amid fallout from the Saba Saba protests in 2025.
Gachagua’s confidence in defeating a Ruto-Raila coalition, predicting Ruto would finish “fourth” if Raila runs, highlights his ambition to lead an opposition coalition in 2027.
However, Raila’s rejection of Gachagua’s leadership, coupled with his push for constitutional reforms in Kenya, positions him as a central figure in shaping the Kenyan political landscape in 2025.
Analysts, like Dismas Mokua, dismiss Gachagua’s claims as personal vendettas against Ruto, arguing that Raila’s influence remains strong, particularly in Nyanza region politics.
As Kenya’s voter concerns grow over economic issues and governance, Raila’s dialogue proposal aims to counter Gachagua’s divisive rhetoric, which has been criticised for promoting tribal politics in Kenya.
