Kileleshwa Member of the County Assembly (MCA) Robert Alai has issued a stark warning, suggesting that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s recent remarks could provoke a hostile reception in the region.

Alai’s caution comes in response to Gachagua’s public tribute to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, whose death on October 15, 2025, continues to resonate across Kenya.

This comes as political tensions are brewing as former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua prepares for a visit to Bondo. On Saturday, November 1, 2025, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka announced plans to lead a delegation to Bondo to honour Raila. However, he did not immediately confirm whether Gachagua will be part of his delegation.

Alai’s warning to Gachagua

In an X post dated November 2, 2025, Alai stated, “Gachagua is to visit Bondo on Thursday. With such reckless talk, he might get a very hostile reception in Bondo.” The “reckless talk” refers to Gachagua’s earlier comments made during the Ngema Feast in Murang’a on November 1, 2025, where he expressed deep admiration for Odinga’s political legacy.

Gachagua said, “As we mourn Raila Odinga, I must admit that I deeply admire him for building a strong and resilient political party called ODM. Even though he was never elected President, he remained part of every government, influencing key decisions and shaping the nation’s direction. That is the example I seek to emulate, to build a strong political party, the DCP, that can effectively influence national decisions for the good of our people. My goal for 2027 is to have 140 elected legislators from the DCP Party so that we can have real strength and bargaining power.”

Tribute to Raila Odinga’s political legacy

Gachagua’s remarks were part of a broader address to professionals at the Ngemi ya Watho festival, where he also praised Odinga’s team of competent foot soldiers, contrasting them with Mount Kenya politicians.

He highlighted leaders like Siaya Governor James Orengo, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, the late Otieno Kajwang, and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, calling them “great minds” who have sustained ODM’s strength for over 20 years.

“But most importantly, his political party, or the legislators, are top-notch lawyers. These are the people who have protected Raila Odinga for 20 years,” Gachagua noted, while criticising Mount Kenya professionals for disengaging from regional politics.

The former Deputy President, who attended the event alongside Kalonzo Musyoka, urged Mount Kenya professionals to produce 40 lawyers for his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) to bolster its goal of securing 140 legislators in the 2027 elections.

His comments, delivered during the Ngemi Cia Watho Association Festival in Gatanga Constituency, emphasised the need for a competent team to drive meaningful change, echoing Odinga’s political model.