Gachagua Reveals Two Things He Secretly Admired About Raila Odinga
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua laid out his respects to the late Raila Odinga, letting slip two qualities that had won his admiration for the seasoned politician.
Chatting on Saturday the 1st of November at the Ngemi ya Watho Festival in Murang’a County, Gachagua described Odinga as a real game-changer – a leader whose impact on Kenyan politics won’t be lost any time soon.
“Talking about Raila Odinga at the moment as we all take the time to pay our respects, I have got to admit I really admire two things about that man of politics, and I have to say I’m genuinely moved by the kind of leader he was,” Gachagua said as he spoke.
He gave a nod of respect to Odinga the man who built a substantial , and in many ways unstoppable, political party in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Gachagua said that the reason Odinga ‘s was able to continue making progress with successive governments was that of his party’s real strength and structure.
“Just look at what he managed to build called the Orange Democratic Movement – this incredibly powerful and widely respected political party – despite never even being elected president, he was able to get Odinga and his team in the door of almost every government and get the results they wanted because he had a rock solid party that he could draw on,” he said.
The leader of the Democratic Congress Party (DCP) also pointed out that one key factor to Odinga ‘s enduring success was his knack for surrounding himself with political allies that were top class in all the right ways – smart, legally savvy, and dedicated to supporting their leader’s goals.
“In his party, he’s always had his people who are basically top-notch lawyers who have been defending Raila Odinga ‘s interests for decades – that’s really where you see, guys like the late James Orengo, Otieno Kajwang, Otiende Amolo, Edwin Sifuna, and Millie Odhiambo, – these were the kind of players that really gave him the legs to stand on for so long,” Gachagua added in reflection.
Gachagua’s comments came in the aftermath of Raila Odinga’s passing – he had died from a cardiac arrest while out for a morning walk at an Ayurvedic treatment centre in Kochi, India.
In a message of condolence, Gachagua mourned Odinga saying he was a ‘colossal figure in Kenya’s journey towards democracy and freedom’ describing him as a “hero who will be etched in the history books of Africa’s political story.”
“An enigma indeed was Baba – the father of our democracy and a landmark figure in Kenya’s second liberation – you stood tall, you stood proud, you stood strong, with a mind that was sharp as a tack, with a deep love of knowledge and a lasting quest to bring democracy to our great nation,” he said.
The late Raila Odinga was laid to rest on October 19th back home in Bondo, Siaya County at a quiet family service that saw his wife, Mama Ida Odinga, his kids, Rosemary, Raila Jnr, and Winnie, alongside his siblings including Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga and Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga.
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Gachagua Reveals Two Things He Secretly Admired About Raila Odinga