Raila Odinga criticises Gachagua over political traps

Opposition leader Raila Odinga. [Standard, File]

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s remarks about setting political traps at the State House to ensnare him.

Speaking during the Thanksgiving ceremony of Vihiga Senator and ODM Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi at Chavakali High School, Odinga described Gachagua’s comments as a threat to the country's growth.

“The former Deputy President said he had laid a trap on me and I cannot have a handshake with the president but am happy with the turn of events because he disrespected me and now, he is out of leadership,” said Odinga.

 Odinga explained that Gachagua’s ouster had ultimately benefited all Kenyans through more equal resource distribution.

He compared the former deputy president to a dangerous Black Mamba snake.

“The national cake is too big for one and he thought he would eat it alone and his ouster has benefited all Kenyans because they can now slaughter a cow for beef than before when a chicken was being slaughtered for all Kenyans,” Odinga noted.

Odinga went on to describe Gachagua as someone who had boasted of setting traps, only to be outdone by the same traps.

"The owner of the traps, Gachagua, thought he would trap a rat but ended up trapping a snake, a dangerous one called black mamba. When he went to confirm whether his traps had netted me, he was shocked to find out that it was a black mamba snake that bit him and eventually died,” he added.

The opposition leader also criticised Gachagua's earlier boast, asking, "Somebody was bragging recently about setting traps everywhere saying there were no backdoor deals. But where is Gachagua now?” Odinga called Gachagua “very foolish.”

Gachagua later clarified that the political traps he referred to were part of an agreement with President William Ruto to prevent Odinga from joining the government through “backdoor” tactics.