Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has heaped praises on Orange democratic Movement party leader Raila Odinga, revealing one political strategy that he wants Mount Kenya region to adopt.
According to Gachagua, Odinga has remained relevant and powerful in politics for several years despite not holding any elective political office as a result of the strong political representation by elected leaders around him.
The former DP who addressed mourners at the funeral of Eric Mutugi, the son of former Embu senator Lenny Kivuti, on Friday, January 3 shared his frustrations with the current political leadership from the region, noting that it is a big mistake that they were elected.
How Raila has makes it into every government
Gachagua questioned the quality of political leadership in Mount Kenya, noting that it pales in comparison to that from Raila’s political support base.
He praised Raila for his consistency which has placed him right at the center of every administration despite having never been elected President of Kenya.
The huge loss we’ve suffered is due to the quality of leaders we’ve sent to the Senate and National Assembly. This elderly man called Raila Odinga has never been president, yet he’s in every government because of the quality of leaders he sends to Parliament and the Senate. We, on the other hand, go and pick anything.
Gachagua on how aspirants will be vetted
He called for thorough scrutiny of when electing leaders in the future, noting that the vetting should ensure that only patriots who will not sell out the region get to be elected.
READ: CS Justin Muturi barred from reading Ruto's condolences during funeral [VIDEO]
So in 2027, we will use a magnifying glass, we will scrutinize you thoroughly; who is your father, who is your mother, do you attend church or not, did you steal someone’s pen when you were in Standard Four, and can you sell out your community or not?
He claimed that leaders from the region are quick at selling out the community for political gain, contributing to the current situation, including his impeachment which according to him was done against the wishes of voters from the Mt Kenya region.
Because the problem we’ve faced is that our leaders have sold us out as a community. They betrayed us, took the money, and then sold us out as a community. That’s why we’re in the situation we are in as people of Mount Kenya. Therefore, going forward, we want the caliber of leaders to be elected in this region to be tested and proven patriots who cannot sell out the community for their own stomachs.
READ: How U.S. funds OCCRP, the organisation that named Ruto 2nd most corrupt leader
Division emerged shortly after Kenya Kwanza won the 2022 presidential elections with two rival camps emerging allied to the President and his deputy.
The impeachment of Gachagua made the rift wider with the two camps frequently facing off.