Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of orchestrating a plan to weaken the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on January 11 in Gatundu South, Kiambu County, during a church service, Gachagua alleged that the Head of State was intent on either forcing ODM to align with him or dividing the party from within.
According to Gachagua, President Ruto allegedly instructed Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho and Co-operatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya to demand the position of party leader in ODM. Should their requests be denied, Gachagua claimed, they were to form their own parties in ODM strongholds, with the intention of weakening the party’s dominance in regions such as the Coast.
“He has decided to divide and finish ODM. He has instructed Joho and Oparanya to demand being party leaders. If they are not made party leaders, they should start their own parties. Ruto wants to make ODM a Luo party,” Gachagua stated.
The former DP also dismissed allegations linking former President Uhuru Kenyatta to the internal conflicts within ODM. He urged party members to respect Kenyatta and avoid using him as a target for political attacks.
“Uhuru Kenyatta tried to help Raila become president, but ODM members refused to turn out and vote, leading to Raila’s loss. Uhuru is not the problem of ODM. Don’t be used by Ruto to slam him,” #Gachagua said.
Gachagua’s statements come amid ongoing debates within ODM over leadership disputes and accountability for the party’s performance in the 2022 elections. Some party officials have criticized Kenyatta, citing mismanagement of agents’ payments, while ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has defended the former president, alleging that internal misappropriation contributed to the electoral setback.
The former DP’s comments signal heightened tensions as ODM navigates its path ahead of the 2027 elections, with claims of external interference intensifying internal scrutiny within the party.