Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will consider former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s offer of joining forces with him, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) National Chairperson Gladys Wanga has now revealed. 

While speaking on NTV’s show Fixing the Nation, the Homa Bay Governor and senior figure at ODM seemingly indicated that Odinga will consider working with Gachagua as he charts his next steps politically.

Recently, Gachagua revealed that he was open to working with Odinga even as the latter had cozied up to President William Ruto’s government. However, Gachagua stated that the option of working with the former Prime Minister was not conditional as Odinga was free to choose which side of the political history books he wanted to be on.

“We have seen the former Deputy President and the others saying ‘Raila can you make up your mind, which way are you going, how are you going to do this’ etcetera,” Wanga stated.

Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga interacting with children on Wednesday, October 9. PHOTO/ Gladys Wanga

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“We are going to look at all those things. Because when you want to cooperate, you have to look at what most nearly aligns to what you believe. So I think all of that is going to be considered,” she added.

 Wanga’s comments came amidst the heightened spotlight on Odinga after his declaration that he will communicate the way forward in regards to his political career in the coming weeks.

This is particularly relevant after his recent loss at the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson election. If Raila had won the AUC election, he would have served well past the 2027 elections thus preventing him from vying for office locally.

 It also reflects the broader political landscape as leaders jostle for a piece of the political cake with the 2027 General Election just around the corner.

Leaders such as Gachagua, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa, and People’s Liberation Party (formerly NARC-Kenya) leader Martha Karua all hinted at a powerful political alliance with the aim of dethroning President William Ruto from office. This is despite all the aforementioned declaring their intentions of ascending to the Presidency in the upcoming polls. 

At the same time, Wanga maintained that Odinga would be cautious about working with Gachagua, who has in the past been accused of propagating divisive politics based on tribalism. Gachagua, who was impeached in October 2024, had the count of tribalism lodged against him during his ouster trial at the Senate.

“There are some concerns or some red flags. For example, if someone says ‘us we are this region and this region will sweep seats say in a certain place like Nairobi’ then we get very afraid because ODM has always been a national movement,”  Wanga posited.

Whether Odinga enters into a pact with Gachagua, moves to increase his presence in Ruto’s administration, or decides against the two altogether remains to be seen. However, the recent political events point towards a bruising battle in the upcoming 2027 elections.  

President William Ruto and Raila Odinga in Homa Bay on Friday, December 27. PHOTO/ Courtesy.