Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi has launched a scathing attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of political dishonesty over his recent remarks suggesting that the Mt. Kenya region is ready to back Raila Odinga for the presidency in 2027.

Speaking on Sunday, March 2, 2025, Atandi dismissed Gachagua’s newfound support for Odinga as insincere, likening the former DP to a hyena seeking to feast on Raila’s political influence.

The ODM legislator pointed out that Gachagua had, in the past, openly opposed Odinga’s presidential bid and questioned his electability.

“I want to say that lately, I have seen some leaders claiming that they are ready to support Raila Odinga for president. There is a particular leader we recently impeached from the position of Deputy President. I want to describe that man as behaving like a hyena. He is looking at Raila’s offering as a piece of meat he can take and eat,” Atandi stated in a blistering critique of Gachagua’s shifting political stance.

Atandi reminded Gachagua that during previous elections, he strongly opposed Odinga, arguing that the ODM leader was not electable and would not be accepted by the Mt. Kenya electorate.

He questioned why Gachagua had now changed his position, calling it an act of “political conmanship.”

“When we wanted him to support us in the past, he didn’t. He said Raila Odinga is not electable and that he cannot be accepted by his people. Why is he now claiming to be ready to support Raila for president? That kind of political deception is what we do not want, and as ODM leaders, we are saying we will not buy into such politics,” Atandi affirmed.

The Alego Usonga MP further emphasised that the ODM party remains committed to ensuring Kenya’s political stability, regardless of past election rivalries.

He asserted that ODM leaders are now prioritising national unity and governance rather than engaging in political gamesmanship.

“Right now, we are focused on the stability of the Republic of Kenya. We are here to say that we will support President William Ruto to ensure that the country remains stable for the benefit of all of us,” Atandi concluded.

Gachagua Hails Raila

The MP’s remarks come barely a week after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua publicly expressed his admiration for Raila Odinga’s political acumen and revealed plans to seek his advice on forming a strong political party.

Speaking during an interview on Monday, 24 February 2025, Gachagua acknowledged Odinga’s long-standing influence in Kenyan politics, particularly his ability to sustain the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) for over two decades.

Gachagua praised the calibre of leaders ODM has produced and signalled his intent to consult Odinga on crafting a similarly formidable political outfit.

“I have two years; I have time to craft a very serious political party, and by the way, I do admire Raila Odinga and ODM. He (Raila) crafted a very serious political machine that has been there for 20 years, and again, the quality of leaders that are elected at the ODM is admirable. In fact, I would be going to ODM for benchmarking. I must talk to Raila Odinga; I must ask him, ‘Mzee, how did you craft this machine? How have you kept it going for 20 years?’ ODM is admirable,” Gachagua stated.

Additionally, Gachagua expressed regret over his past alliance with President William Ruto, admitting that he felt deceived by trusting him without a formal agreement due to their shared Christian faith.

He vowed to ensure that any future political coalitions he joins would be backed by legally binding agreements to safeguard his interests and those of his supporters.

“One of the burdens I carry that is very heavy and weighs me down sometimes is how foolish I feel that I was deceived by Ruto because he was a Christian. He came with a Bible, and I believed him. I never even asked that we sign anything. I was so naive and trusting,” he lamented.