Robert Alai Tells Gachagua to Expect Hostility in Bondo After ‘Reckless Talk’ on Raila Odinga
Kileleshwa Member of the County Assembly Robert Alai has warned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua off visiting Bondo – advising him that his recent remarks are likely to stir up a hornet’s nest in the region.
Alai’s comments are coming at a time when emotions are still running pretty high in the wake of the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga back on October 15 , 2025. The late opposition leader’s passing has brought out loads of tributes from all over the political spectrum – including from Gachagua, who recently made some pretty fulsome remarks about the quality of Odinga’s legacy.
In a post on X on November 2, Alai put up a notice that said “Gachagua is coming to Bondo on Thursday – and with that sort of loose talk of his, he might get itself a very hostile reception in Bondo.”
The “loose talk” Alai was referring to was Gachagua’s speech during the Ngemi Cia Watho Festival in Murang’a on November 1. Speaking at the event, Gachagua was out praising Odinga for turning the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) into the sort of resilient and influential political party that just can’t be ignored.
“As we’re all still coming to terms with Raila Odinga’s passing,” Gachagua said, “I have to admit I have a real lot of admiration for him, for building a strong and resilient political party called ODM. Even though he never actually got to be President, he was always somehow in the thick of things, influencing key decisions and generally helping to shape the nation’s direction.”
He added that his own intention is to follow a similar path with his own Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), which he wants to see get 140 legislators elected in the 2027 elections.
Gachagua also made a point of praising Odinga’s team of ” top-flight foot soldiers”, singling out Siaya Governor James Orengo, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, the late Otieno Kajwang, and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as “great minds” whose hard work kept ODM at the top for two whole decades.
“But above all,” Gachagua said, essentially saying that ODM had the best team of lawyers – ones who looked out for Odinga for 20 years – that any political party could hope for. He contrasted that with the professionals from Mount Kenya region – saying they’d somehow managed to disengage from regional politics.
Gachagua went on to say, with Kalonzo Musyoka by his side, that he was urging professionals from Mount Kenya to step forward and help out DCP by donating 40 lawyers to the DCP cause – which would help the party build up some real political muscle.
Gachagua’s planned visit to Bondo is coming at a time when Kalonzo has announced that he’s going to be leading a delegation to the region to pay their respects to Odinga on November 1 – however it’s still unclear whether Gachagua will actually join the group.
Alai’s caution is a sign of just how sensitive the whole situation is around Odinga’s legacy and Gachagua’s strategy to model his own party after the structure that made ODM so influential for so long in Kenyan politics.
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Robert Alai Tells Gachagua to Expect Hostility in Bondo After ‘Reckless Talk’ on Raila Odinga