ODM politician Junet Mohamed has claimed that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua once threatened to resign from office if President William Ruto attended a meeting aimed at resolving tensions between the Kenya Kwanza administration and the opposition.
Junet made the remarks while recounting behind-the-scenes efforts to ease political tensions following the 2023 demonstrations, which he said had pushed the country into a difficult political situation.
Samia Suluhu sought talks
Junet claimed that Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan took the initiative to mediate between Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at a time when political tensions were escalating.
“After the elections, when ODM went to the demonstrations and things were very bad and the country was going to the dogs, Tanzania’s President, on her own initiative, decided to come here and do arbitration between President Ruto and former Prime Minister,” Junet alleged.
According to Junet, the planned engagement was complicated after Ruto informed them that Gachagua had opposed his participation.
“When we were waiting for him the following day, President Ruto called and said that his deputy President Gachagua has told me not to go to the meeting because if I do, he will resign as DP,” Junet claimed.
Gachagua warned Ruto
Junet said Ruto viewed the situation as a potential new political crisis within his administration.
“So President Ruto said he might be going to solve one crisis but create another one in his government. So he urged us to look for another way to resolve the matter,” he said.
Junet added that the political actors subsequently explored another formula for holding discussions.
“We told President Ruto not to create another crisis and we looked for another formula and we still talked,” he added.
The account offers a glimpse into the political tensions that existed within the Kenya Kwanza administration as Ruto’s government confronted sustained opposition demonstrations and attempts to establish dialogue with the opposition.
Gachagua was later impeached as Deputy President in October 2024 following a political fallout with Ruto.
Junet attacks Gachagua
Junet also criticised Gachagua over his relationship with Raila Odinga, accusing the former Deputy President of seeking political mileage from the late opposition leader’s legacy.
“When Raila died, all the leadership, both in government and in Opposition, were present. Did you see anyone looking like Gachagua? Up to date, he’s not gone to the family to tell them sorry. He wants to use Raila’s name to make statements, bure kabisa,” he remarked.
Junet further alleged that Gachagua had been hostile towards Raila during the 2023 protests.
“It is in the public domain that it is Rigathi who made an attempt on Raila Odinga’s life during the 2023 demonstration when he instructed security officers to aim at him. To date, he has never mourned Raila. It is a fact that he hated Baba with a passion. In fact, he’s transferred the hate to me,” Junet alleged.
The claims come as Gachagua, now leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), continues to position himself as a key figure in opposition politics ahead of the 2027 General Election.
His political rivalry with Ruto and evolving relationship with figures associated with Raila’s political movement remain central to Kenya’s emerging 2027 alliances.
