National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed/ FILENational Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed has hit back at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua after he questioned the circumstances surrounding the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Junet said Gachagua lacked empathy and remorse towards Raila, questioning why he had chosen to raise questions about the former Prime Minister's death months after his burial.
Speaking during a response by opposition MPs to Gachagua's media briefing on Tuesday, Junet said Gachagua had not publicly mourned Raila or visited his family after his death.
“Rigathi lacks empathy and remorse. He is dancing on the grave of a patriarch and trying to make questions out of the death of a statesman,” Junet said.
Gachagua had earlier called for answers over the circumstances surrounding Raila's final days, questioning whether his personal doctors were allowed access to him and whether their advice was followed before he travelled to India.
He also questioned why a post-mortem examination was not conducted, why Raila travelled to India on a private jet and the identities of the doctors who accompanied him.
Gachagua further questioned the circumstances surrounding Raila's burial, saying the former Prime Minister respected Luo traditions and customs and asking why he was buried within 72 hours.
But Junet dismissed Gachagua's intervention, saying he had not been present during the period of mourning.
“After today, he has not even gone to the family of Raila to tell them sorry. That's the same guy who wants to use Raila in his statements here and there,” Junet said.
He also claimed Gachagua had been hostile towards Raila during his political career, referring to remarks and events surrounding the 2023 opposition protests.
Junet alleged that Gachagua had previously been associated with calls for security action against Raila during the demonstrations, although he did not provide fresh evidence during the address.
Junet said Gachagua's latest comments were difficult to reconcile with his previous political position towards Raila.
“He has never mourned Raila. It's a fact he hated Raila with a passion,” Junet said.
Raila died on October 15, 2025, aged 80, while receiving treatment in India. His death came after he travelled to the country for medical treatment.
Gachagua's questions came during a media briefing in which he assessed the Kenya Kwanza administration's four years in office and raised broader concerns over the circumstances surrounding the deaths of prominent Kenyans.
Junet also criticised what he described as the state of opposition politics, claiming Gachagua and his allies lack the numbers and organisational strength needed to mount a serious political challenge.
“The opposition in this country has been reduced to the level of Rigathi Gachagua. It's very sorry. We are in a very sorry and sad state of affairs in this country,” he said.
Junet claimed Gachagua had been unsettled by the size and organisation of the broad-based political gathering, arguing that the former deputy president was increasingly isolated politically.
