Seattle, USA – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a scathing attack on Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga over his recent public criticism of alleged shoot-to-kill orders issued to police, urging the opposition leader to resolve such matters privately with President William Ruto.
Speaking during a Kenyan diaspora engagement forum in Seattle on Friday, Gachagua questioned Raila’s sincerity in the Kenya Kwanza partnership and accused him of political double-speak for addressing sensitive national security issues through the media instead of direct dialogue with the Head of State.
“I’ve seen Raila Odinga castigating the shoot-to-kill order. How can he? President William Ruto is his partner,” Gachagua said. “Why is he addressing him through the press? They are brothers. They should sit, talk, and agree that this is wrong and stop it.”
“This is your brother. You say you work together. Go to his office, drink tea, and ask him to stop it,” he added, in a tone laced with sarcasm and political heat.
Gachagua’s sentiments were echoed by his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), which issued a hard-hitting statement accusing Raila of hypocrisy and complicity in government actions.
“Raila’s assertions are factually untenable, disingenuous, and contradictory,” said DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malalah, dismissing the ODM leader’s criticism as opportunistic and lacking consistency.
The comments came in response to Raila’s strong public rebuke of what he described as illegal and unconstitutional directives allegedly issued to police to “shoot to kill” during recent protests.
“In a protest or any other environment that requires law enforcement, all the above orders to shoot to kill, maim, disorient, or shock citizens are wrong,” Raila stated earlier on Friday.
He called on the government to uphold the rule of law and ensure that police officers prioritize arrests and due process over lethal force.
“Let’s prioritise arrests and arraignment in courts over the killing, maiming, or brutalising of suspects. This preserves the dignity and respects the human rights of suspects while at the same time confers credibility to the actions of the State,” Raila added.
The exchange underscores deepening tensions within Kenya Kwanza’s loosely defined “cooperation” with the opposition, particularly as questions mount over the administration’s handling of public dissent and the use of force by security agencies.
As debate rages, civil society groups have called for transparency on security directives and a full parliamentary inquiry into the alleged shoot-to-kill policy.
Written by Were Kelly
