Gachagua Reveals What Odinga Family Told Him After He Proposed Visit to Bondo
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has disclosed that the Odinga family signalled their full support for a planned Mt Kenya delegation visit to Bondo, following what he described as a “warm and constructive” engagement with Winnie Odinga.
Speaking during a joint television interview in Embu on Sunday night, November 16, 2025, Gachagua said he reached out to Winnie Odinga — daughter of the late opposition leader Raila Odinga — to discuss the timing and purpose of the visit. According to him, the Odinga family agreed that the delegation could travel to Bondo shortly after the Mbeere North by-election concludes.
“I have accepted the call, and I have already spoken with Winnie Odinga,” Gachagua said. “I told her to allow me to finish matters related to the Mbeere by-election, and then, in the first week of December, I will lead a large delegation of elders, churches, and leaders from Mt Kenya to Bondo.”
Gachagua explained that the visit will serve multiple purposes: paying respects to the late Raila Odinga, offering condolences to the family, and promoting renewed cooperation between the Luo and Kikuyu communities. “We will mourn Raila, convey our condolences to his family, and cultivate our relationship with the Luo community,” he noted. “We do not have any vendetta with the Luos.”
Praise for Odinga Family’s Reception of Kalonzo
During the interview, Gachagua highlighted what he termed the “gracious” conduct of the Odinga family during Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s recent visit to console them. He said that the warm reception Kalonzo received sets a positive precedent for his own delegation.
“And you saw that when Kalonzo visited the Odinga family, he was received in a big way,” he said. “I am very happy because they told him that he was a true friend they could trust. Ida was among those who said that James Orengo, Ruth Odinga, and many others acknowledged Kalonzo because he stood with Raila for 15 years and never abandoned him. They confirmed that it was truly a genuine friendship.”
According to Gachagua, those affirmations strengthened his belief that the Odinga family values sincerity and goodwill — qualities he hopes to reflect in his outreach.
‘No Vendetta’ With Raila Odinga
Gachagua also addressed perceptions of political hostility between himself and the late Raila Odinga, insisting there was no personal feud despite their differing political paths.
“For me, Raila and I were not very close brothers, and we never collaborated very closely,” he said. “But we had no vendetta.”
He revealed that elders from the Mt Kenya region had encouraged him to widen his political alliances beyond traditional fault lines. Gachagua cited his past initiatives involving the Kamba, Mijikenda, Maasai, and Kikuyu communities as examples of his commitment to bridging regional divides.
“I have been told by elders from my community that because I am seeking political friends… they advised me also to reach out to the Luo community and unite them with my tribe,” he said.
The planned December visit to Bondo, he added, marks the first major step in a renewed effort to deepen cross-community cooperation following Raila Odinga’s death — a moment he described as an opportunity to “reset relationships” and honor a political figure whose influence shaped national discourse for decades.
Also Read: Several Key Kenyan Government Websites Hacked in a Coordinated Cyberattack
Gachagua Reveals What Odinga Family Told Him After He Proposed Visit to Bondo