Gachagua termed the former Prime Minister as a man who exuded great resilience, endurance and perseverance.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Tuesday, August 27 expressed confidence in Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission chairperson.
Gachagua, who spoke at State House during the official launch of Raila’s AUC bid, termed the former Prime Minister as a man who exuded great resilience, endurance and perseverance.
While addressing delegates that included Heads of States from other African countries, Gachagua recounted his doubts about the Azimio principal’s leadership given he was competing against President William Ruto in the 2022 general elections.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Azimio Leader Raila Odinga at KICC for Africa Climate Summit on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. /DPPS
However, he had since changed his mind about Odinga’s leadership capacity, away from the stance he has been taking over Odinga competing for the same position in government as Ruto.
“Somebody may ask why Rigathi Gachagua who has before had issues with the leadership of Raila Odinga, as a truthful man I had nothing against him,” Gachagua explained, adding “It’s only that we were competing for the same position between him and my boss.”
The DP further assured Raila, who served in the Kenyan government before as Prime Minister in the administration of the late Mwai Kibaki, that the government and Kenyans were behind Raila, who formally kicked off his campaign for the continental role.
“Now that he is going for a bigger seat in Africa, all of us from the president, I and the Kenyans are behind him and Raila Odinga, as a man who listens to the ground let me confirm to you that I have listened to the ground and all Kenyans across the political divide across communities are in support of your candidature and we wish you well,” the DP noted.
On Thursday, June 6, Raila hinted at working together with Gachagua despite the two being at political loggerheads for a considerable amount of time, saying his decision to work with the Deputy President was mainly due to his quest to clinch the role of AUC chairperson.
As per Raila, his bid for the continental seat was backed by the government, therefore Gachagua isn’t an exception. The former Prime Minister hailed the second-in-command as a changed man.
“I am working with everybody in this country, nobody specifically, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is a member of the government and yesterday the government pledged to support my bid for AU. He has seen the light, he is a Saul who has become a Paul,” Raila remarked.
Meanwhile, Raila on his part expressed his readiness for an African leadership role, hailing the story of the African lion as the “king of the jungle.”
“I am here as the African lion. I’ve been asleep in the jungles of the Congo but now I’m awake and I’m sitting on African gold, oil, diamonds, iron and copper ores. I have the ability to transform all these materials that I have into wealth for the benefit of my people,” he stated.
