Rigathi Gachagua's Party Tears into Raila, Calls Him Hypocrite for Criticising Ruto: "Betrayal"
- The DCP outfit hit back at Raila Odinga’s condemnation of President William Ruto's “shoot to maim” orders, questioning his role in the same administration he criticised
- The party accused Raila and the ODM party of complicity in police violence during Gen-Z protests, alleging silence and collaboration with security forces
- DCP claimed Raila’s remarks were driven by fear over his public image and urged him to quit politics for leaders “genuinely committed” to Kenyans
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) has harshly criticised ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Source: UGC
The party, linked to former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, called out Raila for what it termed as hypocritical condemnation of alleged state violence during recent Gen-Z protests.
The strongly worded statement was signed by Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malalah. It targeted Raila's comments against President William Ruto’s “shoot to maim” directive, accusing the veteran opposition figure of trying to detach himself from the actions of a government he is now part of.
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Why is DCP accusing Raila of hypocrisy?
According to DCP, Raila cannot separate himself from the controversial security decisions made under Ruto’s administration, as he has publicly supported and aligned himself with the Kenya Kwanza government.
The party argued that his involvement in state affairs makes him equally responsible for the reported human rights violations meted out on Gen-Z protesters.
“Raila's assertations are factually untenable, disingenuous and contradictory. As an integral member of the present administration, he bears direct responsibility for its actions and is thus complicit in facilitating the alleged human rights violations perpetrated under President Ruto’s authority,” the statement read.
DCP went on to accuse Raila and his party of not only endorsing but actively participating in the suppression of dissent.
The statement alleged that ODM-affiliated youth had assisted police officers in dispersing peaceful demonstrators, resulting in injuries, destruction of property, and general chaos.
The party criticised ODM’s silence on these issues, particularly when several of its senior members openly supported the government’s heavy-handed tactics without facing internal disciplinary action.
“Prominent ODM supporters, including elected officials, have publicly endorsed the government's repressive measures, including the aforementioned lethal directives, without censure from party leadership,” the party added.
Source: Facebook
What does DCP rebuttal mean for Raila’s political standing?
DCP suggested that Raila’s condemnation of the government’s use of force may be a desperate attempt to salvage his image among Kenyans, particularly the youth, who have accused him of abandoning his reformist ideals.
“This effort at retrospective image rehabilitation is rendered hollow by his continued participation in a government that inflicts suffering upon Kenyans, including documented abductions, torture, and extrajudicial killings,” the statement claimed.
Malalah further argued that Raila’s support for the UDA-ODM pact, even as it allegedly veers from its initial governance agenda, strips him of the moral ground to criticise state excesses.
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“We assert that Mr Odinga’s alignment with state oppression constitutes a betrayal of public trust,” said Malalah.
He added that it was time for Raila to step aside and give way to leaders with genuine intentions for the people.
DCP’s response comes at a time when the government is facing intense backlash over police brutality, abductions, and killings during protests across the country.
How many people were killed during Saba Saba?
TUKO.co.ke previously reported that at least 31 people were killed during the Saba Saba protests held on July 7, according to a report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
The demonstrations, which spread across various parts of the country, turned violent and led to numerous casualties.
In addition to the deaths, 107 people sustained injuries, while two individuals were reported as forcibly disappeared. The commission also recorded 532 arrests linked to the nationwide unrest.
KNCHR condemned the scale of human rights violations and called for full accountability.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
