ODM leaders attack Gachagua over 'tribal politics,' say he is unfit to lead Kenya

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders have fired yet another warning shot at Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of chest-thumping over perceived tribal voting blocs ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The ODM leaders, who pitched camp in Ndhiwa Constituency during a boda boda empowerment drive, warned that what they termed as ethnic rhetoric could plunge the country into political turmoil.

ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga said: “Gachagua propagates exclusion, the politics of big tribes and small tribes. That's not the ODM DNA, and anybody associating with Gachagua and saying they are part of ODM, si hivyo, hao wamepotea."

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi challenged Gachagua to look beyond his community and focus on leading the entire country.

"You cannot be a leader who keeps on saying that you want to be president because your community has 7 million votes. Do you want to lead your community or the whole country?” Posed Mbadi.

“The other communities, however small or few we are, we also produce people who are very capable of leading this country.”

The ODM leaders castigated Gachagua over his recent remarks targeting fellow opposition leaders, telling the DCP boss to tame what they described as his loose tongue.

"Gachagua to us is a no and anybody associating with him is a no. The other day he was telling Kisii's that they cannot produce President, telling Luos that we are only 1.5 million, telling Somali and calling them Al-Shabaab and pirates…how can we have a leader whose mind is fixed on regional and ethnic politics?" Mbadi posed.

Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma said the ODM party would shore up President William Ruto's numbers in next year's general election.

"Gachagua, I want to tell you, you have no votes in Mt Kenya region to stop Ruto's re-election. This region you take for granted, this region you have been playing with, will give Ruto 4 million votes," he said.

ODM also sought to explain why it believes working with President Ruto is the better proposition, saying talks with the Kenya Kwanza administration were not just about power sharing.

"This party, ODM, its ideals and the things that it stands for, we will negotiate with UDA, not just about positions, but also about the issues that ODM has stood for over the years, including inclusion. And that is why we cannot be in the same place as Gachagua,” said Wanga.

The leaders unanimously rallied locals to shun what they termed as the culture of goons in politics.

They rallied Nyanza residents to register in large numbers as voters, ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, and Acting ODM Secretary General Catherine Omanyo pitched camp in Busia to drum up support for President Ruto's re-election bid.