ODM MPs take on Gachagua over tribal profiling of Luo leaders

A section of ODM lawmakers have accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of ethnic profiling, targeting Luo leaders serving in the government.

The MPs TJ Kajwang’ (Ruaraka), Jared Okelo (Nyando) and Joshua Oron (Kisumu Central) claimed the former Deputy President has launched an ethnic campaign to isolate leaders from the lake region appointed by President William Ruto to serve in the broad-based government.

The leaders cited recent utterances by Gachagua that have targeted ODM boss Raila Odinga and his backyard as the beneficiaries of government goodies despite voting against the current administration. 

They also singled out Maragua MP Mary Wamaua for being part of the profiling.

Speaking at Parliament Buildings, the lawmakers claimed the remarks further singled out Cabinet Secretaries John Mbadi (Treasury), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy) and Interior PS Raymond Omollo. 

Apart from Omollo, both Mbadi and Wandayi were co-opted into the government after the June 25, 2024 Gen Z protests that saw the President dissolve his Cabinet.

“We are here to call out and demand an immediate stop to a campaign being waged by a section of leaders from Mount Kenya against the few Luo leaders in government and the leadership of the Luo community outside government,” Okelo said.

“In this dirty campaign, even members of the Luo community holding civil service positions are being singled out for attacks. In the last few days, Interior PS Dr Raymond Omollo has been the target of an online campaign by bloggers associated with Gachagua and other Mt Kenya leaders.”

Kajwang’ termed Gachagua’s outburst against the community and its leader a ‘hangover’ from his impeachment last year. 

The former DP has not reconciled with the fact that the impeachment, which received backing from Raila-allied MPs, permanently nailed his political career, the Ruaraka MP said.

“Rigathi Gachagua must be having issues arising from his impeachment; he needs to deal with the fact that he is a person who cannot hold a public office,” Kajwang’ said.

“That door (public office) closed the day Senators voted. Some of us who are constitutional lawyers, we know that cannot be reversed even in court.”

Oron demanded respect for Raila, saying they will not sit down and watch any demeaning campaign against their party leader. 

He cautioned that the coordinated efforts by Gachagua and his allies to belittle and erase Raila’s legacy are unwarranted and risk triggering political tension.

“Raila is not Gachagua’s equal, even the freedom Gachagua is enjoying is because of the sacrifices made by Raila,” Oron said.

The statements by the ODM lawmakers come days after Raila termed Gachagua a tribal leader, who he cannot work with.

“How can I work with a leader who describes the government as a company where people own shares – some with more, others with few and others with none?” Raila posed during a funds drive in Rarieda, Siaya county on Friday last week.

Instant Analysis

President William Ruto last year co-opted a number of ODM leaders into his broad-based government as a way to have an inclusive government, which was among the reasons that fuelled the 2024 anti-government protests.