Why I did not attend Raila's funeral – Gachagua

Speaking during an interview with iNooro TV on Sunday, Gachagua said that he had already paid tribute to the former Prime Minister, describing him as “a very important state leader.”

He added that he admired Raila’s political resilience and organisation of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.

“I would like to create a strong political party like ODM, for 20 years ODM has been a great party, and I would like to make DCP stronger than ODM. Second, I said I admire the way Raila chose his political leaders with high experience to stand for his party and the house," said the former deputy president. 

Gachagua claimed that although he was prepared to attend the national funeral service at the Nyayo National Stadium, he was warned of a plot to harm him. He alleged that certain individuals within the government had previously planned to assassinate him and said earlier threats and attacks against him had not been investigated.

“The government had sent some hitmen to Limuru to kill me, and until today, they have not been arrested. Ruto himself had sent some hitmen to kill me in PCA Mwiki in April. Also, on my arrival from the USA, I was beaten by hired men and police officers in civilian clothing,” he stated.

He said that some police officers advised him not to attend the funeral, warning that an attack on him could be blamed on people from the Nyanza region, which he said could trigger animosity between the Gikuyu and Luo communities.

“Some police told me not to go because the government had planned to use some officers in civilian clothing to attack me, so that it may be said that people from the Nyanza region attacked me, so that the Gikuyu and Luos can be enemies,” the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader stated.

Gachagua added that he also cancelled a planned visit to Bondo, claiming that senior government officials had arranged a similar plan to attack him there. He said he understood President Ruto’s administration well and would not allow himself to fall into what he called a trap designed to fuel ethnic conflict.

“I then said I would go to Bondo, and the official (PS Omolo) had arranged the same plan so that they could attack and kill me to trigger enmity between our communities. I know President Ruto's administration very well, and I could not have allowed myself to fall into his trap,” he said.

He further claimed that even without security threats, he would not have attended the ceremony because of the lies spoken during the funeral.

According to Gachagua, President Ruto and other government officials pretended to admire Raila despite previously criticising him. He said that the only person who spoke truthfully at the burial was Kalonzo Musyoka, who had worked closely with Raila for 15 years.

“Even if there were no threats, the lies told at the funeral State I couldn't condone. Ruto was there pretending how Raila was good and crying, yet he used to tell us that Raila was a witch, and the nation's problem, all lies.”