Gachagua Admits Envy for Raila’s Loyal ‘Foot Soldiers’, Urges Mt Kenya Elites to Lead

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has heaped praise on the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, lauding both his political resilience and the longevity of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.

Speaking during the Ngemi ya Watho Festival hosted by the GEMA region’s legal fraternity in Thika, Gachagua reflected on Odinga’s legacy, describing him as a man who mastered the art of influence despite never ascending to the presidency.

“Look at the political party he built called ODM; a strong political party that, though he was never elected president, he was able to get into every government and get what he wanted because he had a strong political party,” Gachagua remarked.

He applauded the quality and loyalty of ODM’s leadership, emphasizing that many of its senior figures were exceptional legal minds who stood firmly by Odinga’s side throughout his political career.

“In his party, all legislators are top-notch lawyers. These are the people who protected Raila Odinga for 30 years,” he said, citing leaders such as James Orengo, the late Otieno Kajwang, Otiende Amollo, Caroli Omondi, Peter Kaluma, Edwin Sifuna, Stewart Madzayo, Catherine Mumma, Millie Odhiambo, Tom Ojienda, Okong’o Omogeni, Mohammed Faki, and Babu Owino among others.

Gachagua contrasted this with his own political journey, lamenting the lack of equally capable and loyal “foot soldiers” in the Mt. Kenya region.

“My people, your leader is in trouble, he has no foot soldiers. You have given him tugeges, yet you sit here as great minds, and you can see the lawyers who have stood with Raila,” he told the audience.

Encouraging professionals to play a more active role in politics, Gachagua urged the educated class to take leadership positions and champion good governance.

“You are so educated and learned; you must offer yourselves to lead our people, defend them, and make good laws,” he appealed.

He also invited lawyers and intellectuals to join his new political outfit, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), revealing plans to recruit 140 legislators, including at least 40 lawyers, to build a strong, reform-driven party.

“We cannot say politics is dirty. By staying away, the country remains dirty because of bad governance and poor leadership,” he added.

Gachagua concluded by stressing that Kenya’s professionals have a moral and civic duty to guide the nation’s governance, warning that their continued detachment from politics could leave the country vulnerable to weak leadership and declining governance standards.

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