Thursday, March 26,
2026 - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has revealed why he has not
yet paid homage at the grave of the late Raila Odinga in Kang’o Ka Jaramogi,
Bondo, Siaya County.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, March 25th,
Gachagua said he reached out to Mama Ida Odinga to seek permission to visit the
family home but was advised to wait until the appropriate time.
He noted that he is still awaiting a date from Mama Ida on
when he can make the visit.
“I called Mama Ida Odinga and gave her my personal
condolences.”
“We placed a request that we would like to go to Bondo.”
“She told us things were still quite heavy, and at an
appropriate time, she will give us an answer.”
“We are still waiting. In fact, I was ready with my elders,”
Gachagua stated.
The DCP leader emphasized that as an elder and a national
leader, he could not force himself into someone’s home without approval.
“You cannot force yourself into somebody’s home. I’m an
elder and a leader in this country, I’m also a person who respects families and
homes and traditions,” he added.
Gachagua further disclosed that he had planned to attend
Raila’s State Funeral at Nyayo National Stadium but opted out after receiving
intelligence reports that goons intended to attack him.
He said he chose not to attend to avoid being perceived as
the cause of any disruption.
“I applied my mind as a senior politician and as a
strategist, and I realized that it was a very important occasion for Raila
Odinga and his followers, and it would have been imprudent of me to seem like I
had brought chaos into a very solemn ceremony,” he explained.
Raila Odinga passed away on October 15th after
suffering a cardiac arrest in Kochi, India. He was laid to rest on October 19th
at his ancestral home in Bondo.
Thousands have since visited his gravesite to pay tribute.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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