Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa has defended former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s silence and absence during the farewell ceremony of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying it was not an act of defiance but a gesture of respect and statesmanship.
Gachagua’s Absence Misinterpreted, Says Karungo
In a statement released on October 18, 2025, Senator Karungo said Gachagua’s decision to skip the national farewell service held at Nyayo Stadium on Friday, October 17, was a “deliberate show of emotional intelligence and political maturity.”
“Kenya does not stop when Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua chooses silence,” Karungo wrote. “It listens even more closely.”
He explained that Gachagua’s presence at the highly emotional event could have shifted focus from Raila Odinga’s legacy to political speculation.
“He knows that his presence alone would have changed the tone of the day, shifting the focus from Raila’s legacy to endless political interpretations,” he stated.
‘His Absence Was Reverence, Not Defiance’
According to Karungo, the former deputy president’s absence allowed the country to mourn and celebrate Raila’s life without unnecessary political distractions.
“By choosing to step back, Gachagua ensured that the spotlight remained where it truly belonged — on Baba’s journey, sacrifice, and contribution,” he added.
Karungo dismissed social media claims suggesting indifference, emphasizing that Gachagua and Raila shared a long political history that included both collaboration and disagreement.
“His absence was not indifference. It was reverence,” he wrote.
Private Tribute Planned in Bondo
The Kiambu Senator further revealed that Gachagua intends to honour Raila Odinga privately after the national ceremonies conclude.
“When the right time comes, he will honour Raila, not before a sea of cameras, but in a deeply personal and respectful way, by laying a wreath at his resting place in Bondo,” Karungo said.
