Gachagua to Raila: You Cannot Even Dismiss a Chief, Let US Ambassador Meg Whitman Be

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has once again criticized opposition leader Raila Odinga, saying that he lacks the authority to lead the Kenya Kwanza government and is simply an ordinary citizen. 

This comes after Odinga criticized the US ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, for praising President William Ruto's election win in 2022. Gachagua on Saturday argued that Odinga has no authority to criticize diplomats and is putting Kenya's diplomatic relations with the US at risk. He also accused Odinga of dissuading potential investors with his assertions and emphasized that it is imperative to accord due respect to Kenya's development partners.

According to Gachagua, Odinga is a private citizen and does not have the power to dismiss a chief.  Regarding the outcome of the general election in 2022, the deputy president mentioned that foreign observers were given access to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) portal which had been published by the country's electoral body. Gachagua claimed that the US diplomat in Kenya had access to the portal and a calculator to verify election results. 

Gachagua has urged her to dismiss the opposition's comments. The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition challenged the results of the presidential election in 2022, citing vote rigging and irregularities. However, the Supreme Court rejected the opposition's request to nullify the results and instead, Chief Justice Martha Koome and her panel of seven upheld Dr Ruto's victory. Dr Ruto and Mr Gachagua ran for the presidency on a Kenya Kwanza ticket.

As the post-election crisis drags on, the discussion to resolve it appears to be fragile following opposition leader Raila Odinga's announcement of new plans for hosting events aimed at reaching the people and counter-attacking criticism by President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua.