Raila hits out at Gachagua over failed State House traps

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Tuesday, March 5, 2025, hit out at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his remarks in 2023 that he had secured the State House from entry by Odinga.

Speaking throughout his consultative tour of Wajir County, Odinga mocked Gachagua over his disparaging remarks the place he said that his sole position was to guard President William Ruto from Odinga.

“Yule jamaa mwingine alikuwa akisema ati ameweka mitego. Si alikuwa ameweka mitego kila mahali na hakuna pahali pa kupita,” Odinga remarked. (Did he [Gachagua] lay snares allover the place and made positive there was no entry to Ruto)

“Akasema hakuna mambo ya handshake na nusu mkate. Mnataka tuende kwa jamaa mwenye mitego?” (Would you need us to return to the one who laid the snares and refused dialogue, handshake and inclusive authorities?)

Raila posed amidst a thunderous repudiation from the viewers.

Traps for Odinga

In 2023, Gachagua revealed that his position was to guard Ruto from entry by Odinga, whom he accused of wreaking political formations for his personal achieve.

“Huyu mzee wa kitendawili alinikuta kwa mazishi huko Nyandarua akaniuliza kwa nini sitaki mazungumzo. Nikaamka nikamuambia siogopi mazungumzo; ile kitu naogopa ni wewe,” Gachagua stated in 2023. (I lately met Raila at a funeral the place he challenged me on why I used to be against his requires talks. I instructed him point-blank that it was him I feared and never dialogue)

“Alikuwa anajaribu kuja hapa kwa rais wakati nilikuwa nimeenda Italy. Wakajaribu kupitia huku na huko nikaitwa nikarudi haraka. Mimi kazi yangu ni kuchunga rais.” (While I used to be away on a tour to Italy, I used to be knowledgeable that they had been trying to make inroads. I reduce quick my journey and rushed again as my job is to guard the president.)

“Adding: Hiyo ikulu nimeweka mitego kila corner na kila pahali; na niko na watu wa kunipigia simu. Akionekana tu karibu, naambiwa.” (I’ve laid snares in each nook of the State House, and I’ve informers who would name me the second he’s noticed anyplace close by.)

Pact with Ruto

The remarks come within the wake of consultations by Odinga after assembly with Ruto in Mombasa on February 24, 2025, the place a cooperation deal is alleged to have been hatched.

During the assembly, Odinga was accompanied by his longtime lawyer Paul Mwangi and Junet Mohamed who had been each current when he brokered a cope with former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018.

Gachagua maintains he’s keen to contemplate working with each chief within the nation in his quest to unseat Ruto in 2027.

“I am open to working with anybody who means well for the country. I want to tell supporters of Raila from Nyanza not to fight the people from Mt Kenya because we are not their enemies,” he stated on February 24, 2025.