Gachagua: NDC scheduled for Friday is ODM’s last supper
By Kenneth Mwenda, March 25, 2026Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has warned that the upcoming National Delegates Conference (NDC) of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) could mark the party’s end, claiming it risks being weakened beyond recovery if it enters into a deal with President William Ruto.
Speaking during a live interview on Wednesday, March 25, Gachagua said the Friday meeting could turn into what he called ODM’s ‘last supper’.
“Can you tell me about this NDC that is scheduled for Friday, that is ODM’s last supper?” he said.
Gachagua, however, began by praising the legacy of the late Raila Odinga, describing him as a leader who built one of the country’s strongest political parties.
“That Raila Odinga, in his greatness, has one great legacy. He founded and developed and grew a strong political party. I admire ODM and the quality of leaders that came through ODM,” he said.
Despite the praise, he argued that the party is now in decline.
“I don’t have a problem with anybody. I have a problem that ODM is on its deathbed,” he said, adding that strong political parties are essential for a functioning democracy.
Claims of plot to weaken ODM
Gachagua made a striking claim during the interview, claiming that Ruto had previously confided in him about a plan to undermine ODM from within.
“When William Ruto decided to work with Raila Odinga… I asked him, “You had a lot of problems with this man. How come you now want to work with him?’” Gachagua asked.
“And he told me we cannot allow ODM to be. We must destroy ODM.”
He questioned the president’s current political approach, saying it contradicts his past stance.
“It is the same party he wants to work with now. How does that make sense? He doesn’t want to work with ODM. He has destroyed ODM. ODM is a pale shadow of its former self,” he said.
Warning to ODM supporters
Gachagua urged ODM supporters to resist any attempt to merge or weaken the party, calling it Raila’s most important legacy.
“Please, don’t allow William Ruto to destroy ODM, because I have been in this space before,” he said.
He argued that regions can only protect their interests in government through strong and independent political parties.
“The only way a region can protect its interests in a government is through a strong political party,” he said.
He pointed to his own political experience in the Mt Kenya region, saying they made a mistake by backing Ruto without a solid party structure.
“My people from the mountain… we are in the situation we are in because we went to join Ruto without our own political party,” he said.
“If ODM agrees to be swallowed… the people of that region will cry the way we are crying.”
Four conditions for any deal
Gachagua outlined four conditions he believes ODM should meet before entering any agreement with Ruto.
First, he said the party must secure its finances by demanding funds owed to it.
“ODM is owed Ksh12 billion through the Political Parties Fund. They should demand that money so that they are financially independent,” he said.
Second, he called for accountability on development promises made in Nyanza, saying they must be reflected in the next national budget.
“The president has made many promises… If there is no money in the last budget, that is just a campaign gimmick,” he said.
Third, he insisted that any political agreement must be made public.
“Whatever agreement they want with William Ruto, it must be made public,” he said.
“If they are being promised positions like deputy president, it must be announced publicly.”
He warned that private agreements may not be honoured, citing his own past experience.
“The mistake I made… we did things under the table… All those things were not honoured,” he said.
Fourth, he urged ODM to protect its strongholds by demanding political zoning.
“If ODM enters into an agreement… they must demand that those areas are zoned for ODM so that they have enough MPs,” he said.
“If they open up their strongholds… they will be swallowed.”
‘Same script’ warning
Gachagua said he sees a familiar political pattern in Ruto’s recent visits to Nyanza.
“The time he is spending in Nyanza… I can see the same script,” he said.
“He was coming to the mountain promising us everything until we elected him. I can see the same deception.”
He said he felt a duty to speak out based on his past experience.
“In my community they say, if you are beaten by a snake, when you see a rope, you run away,” he said.
“I can see what is happening, and I have a responsibility to tell the people of Nyanza.”
His remarks add to an ongoing public fallout with Ruto. Earlier in the same interview, Gachagua accused the president of shifting his political attacks from Raila to him after years of criticizing the ODM leader.
“William Ruto spent nine years abusing Raila Odinga… Today he says he is a good man,” he said.
Gachagua admitted he also took part in those attacks but blamed Ruto’s leadership at the time, describing their campaign as a “choir” led by the president.
The latest comments are likely to deepen political tensions as the country moves closer to the next election cycle, with alliances and party strength becoming key battlegrounds.