Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed allegations of being behind rumors about ODM leader Raila Odinga’s health.
Speaking on Sunday, October 5, Gachagua said he spent most of Saturday with Nyali MP Mohammed Ali and was not on social media.
Gachagua said he was not aware if rumors were circulating online about Raila’s health.
“I am very saddened by ODM; it has sunk so low. Since they allowed William Ruto to destroy ODM, it is no longer the party it was. I spent the whole of yesterday with Mohammed Ali. I never had access to social media, and I slept early.
“This morning, when I woke, I was told there is a letter that ODM is accusing me and Kalonzo of giving, misinformation that Raila is unwell. I was not even aware whether he is unwell or if there are rumors that he is unwell,” said Gachagua.
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The former DP noted that he does not concern himself with Raila, noting that he sees no difference between the former Prime Minister and President William Ruto.
“There is no difference between Ruto and Raila, so you don’t have to concentrate on two personalities when they are one. I don’t bother about Raila, and I have no interest in where he goes, whether he is out of the country or not. It is none of my business,” he stated.
Gachagua went on to say the statement by ODM accusing him of spreading rumours about Raila is ‘amateurish’.
He argued that ODM did not have to write a statement if the former Prime Minister was feeling well.
“When I looked at that letter, it’s so amateurish, it’s so cheap. If a leader is said to be unwell and he is well, you just ignore and go on with life; you don’t have to say you are well. Why should you bother? If you feel the rumors are bothering you and you need to tell people you're well, you don’t have to write a letter; all you need to do is do activities here and there, and then people can see you are well,” he stated.
Further, Gachagua alleged that the letter was part of a wider political scheme aimed at sowing division between the Luo community and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
“It is political mischief, if Raila will not run and he supports Ruto, a lot of people from Luo Nyanza are saying that if Kalonzo is in the ballot, they will vote for him because he has stood with Raila for 15 years. I think this was a scheme to try to create a wedge between the Luo Nation and Kalonzo,” Gachagua added.
Raila’s Spokesperson, Dennis Onyango, in a statement on Sunday, accused Gachagua and Kalonzo of orchestrating misinformation on Raila’s health.
Onyango claimed that the united opposition team is trying to bully Raila into supporting their political fight against President Ruto.
“The misinformation is broadcast by the same team that went on a frenzy against Hon. Raila’s bid for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission earlier this year.
“Gachagua, Kalonzo & co have co-opted sections of the traditional media that are happily picking feeds from bloggers, including AI-generated images, and broadcasting them as some kind of investigative breaking news,” read the statement in part.
He clarified that the former Prime Minister travelled out of the country on Friday, October 3.
“Hon. Raila travelled out of the country on Friday evening, one of the many trips he has made this year, and definitely not the last,” said Onyango.
The Wiper Party also dismissed Raila's secretariat statement as outbursts emanating from fears and insecurities over the former prime minister's political future.
"Let it be stated clearly. H.E. Kalonzo Musyoka harbors no ill will whatsoever toward Mr. Odinga. The two leaders share a long, public history of cooperation and mutual respect. Any suggestion that Kalonzo Musyoka wishes harm upon Raila is malicious, reckless, and utterly false," the party said.
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