If Rigathi Gachagua were still the Deputy President, Kenyans would likely have witnessed a very different farewell for Raila Odinga. The man whose politics thrives on bitterness and division would never have allowed President William Ruto to accord Raila the honour of a state burial.
Gachagua’s brand of politics is deeply personal and tribal. Throughout his tenure as Deputy President, he treated political opponents as enemies, not fellow citizens with differing opinions. He repeatedly attacked Raila with insults and mocked his health, portraying him as an obstacle rather than a statesman who shaped Kenya’s democratic history. To such a man, honouring Raila with a state funeral would have felt like betrayal — not respect.
Gachagua views politics as war, not leadership. His world is drawn in narrow lines of “us versus them.” Under his influence, national events often turned into tribal theatre, where reconciliation and unity had no space. It’s therefore easy to imagine that he would have fought fiercely behind the scenes to block any gesture of national respect towards Raila Odinga.
President Ruto, despite their political rivalry, understood that Raila’s legacy transcended party lines — that he represented Kenya’s long struggle for freedom, democracy, and justice. But with Gachagua in power, that spirit of national healing would have been suffocated under pettiness and resentment.
His impeachment, therefore, was not just political — it was necessary for Kenya’s maturity. It cleared the space for a moment of unity, allowing the nation to honour a leader who gave his life to public service.
Simply put, if Gachagua had remained Deputy President, Raila’s burial would have been reduced to a political spectacle, not the dignified state event it deserved to be. His removal was a blessing in disguise — for Kenya, and for history.
