GACHAGUA EXPLAINS WHY HE MISSED RAILA ODINGA'S FUNERAL

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said that his absence from the late Raila Odinga’s State funeral and burial was because of alleged security threats.
Gachagua, who was speaking to iNooro TV on Sunday, said he had already paid tribute to the former Prime Minister, describing him as “a very important state leader.”

He added that he admires Raila’s political resilience and organization of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.

"I would like to create a strong political party like ODM, for 20 years ODM has been a great party, and I would like to make DCP stronger than ODM. Second, I said I admire the way Raila chose his political leaders with high experience to stand for his party and the house," said the former deputy president.

Gachagua said he was ready to attend the national funeral service at Nyayo National Stadium, but was warned of a plot to harm him. He said some people in the government had plotted to assassinate him earlier on, and threats and an attack on him were never investigated.

"The government had sent some hitmen to Limuru to kill me, and up until today, they have not been arrested. Ruto himself had sent some hitmen to kill me in PCA Mwiki in April. Also, on my arrival from the USA, I was beaten by hired men and police officers in civilian clothing," he said.

He added that some police officers told him not to attend the funeral, warning that an attack on him could be blamed on people from the Nyanza region, which, he said, could trigger animosity between the Gikuyu and Luo communities.

"Some police told me not to go because the government had planned to use some officers in civilian clothing to attack me, so that it may be said that people from the Nyanza region attacked me, so that the Gikuyu and Luos can be enemies," the Democracy for Citizens Party leader stated.

Gachagua added that he also cancelled a planned visit to Bondo, alleging senior government officials had arranged a similar plan to attack him there. He said he understood President Ruto’s administration well and would not allow himself to fall into what he termed a trap aimed at fuelling ethnic conflict.

“I then said I would go to Bondo, and the official had arranged the same plan so that they could attack and kill me to trigger enmity between our communities. I know President Ruto's administration very well, and I could not have allowed myself to fall into his trap,” he said.

He further said that he would not have attended the ceremony even without security threats, considering the lies that were spoken during the funeral.

Gachagua added that President Ruto and others feigned to praise Raila yet previously criticised him. The only person who told the truth at the burial, he claimed, was Kalonzo Musyoka, who for a record 15 years had worked with Raila. “Even if there were no threats, the lies that were told at that funeral state, I couldn't condone. Ruto was there pretending how good Raila was, crying, yet he used to tell us Raila is a witch and the nation's problem, all lies.