Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called for comprehensive public inquiries into several high-profile deaths recorded during President William Ruto’s administration, saying Kenyans deserve clear answers on the circumstances surrounding them. Speaking on Tuesday while reviewing the Kenya Kwanza government’s performance, Gachagua raised questions about the deaths of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla and Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno. Gachagua argued that the lack of publicly available findings in some of the cases has continued to raise concerns among Kenyans.
Questions Over Raila Odinga’s Death
Gachagua questioned the circumstances surrounding Raila Odinga’s final days, including the medical care he received and the decisions made following his death. He asked why Odinga’s personal doctors were allegedly unable to access him during his final hours, while other doctors were reportedly present.
The former Deputy President also questioned why no postmortem examination was conducted and raised concerns about Odinga’s reported trip to India aboard a private aircraft despite claims that his personal doctor had advised against travelling. Gachagua further questioned whether President Ruto had any role as an executor of Odinga’s will and raised concerns over changes within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leadership before Odinga’s burial arrangements had been completed.
He also questioned the decision to bury Odinga within three days, arguing that the timing appeared inconsistent with traditional Luo burial practices.
Claims Surrounding Johana Ng’eno’s Helicopter Crash
Gachagua also raised questions about the helicopter crash that killed Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno. He alleged that the aircraft refuelled at Eldoret after dropping Ng’eno at Endebes and claimed that the fuel had been transported from Lodwar by road.
According to Gachagua, officials at the airstrip reportedly stopped and questioned the driver transporting the fuel before allegedly receiving instructions from Nairobi to release him. He suggested that the fuel could have contributed to a mechanical problem with the helicopter, particularly at high altitude. Gachagua called on the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) to release CCTV footage from the airstrip to help establish what happened before the aircraft took off.
Gachagua Questions General Ogolla’s Death
On the death of General Francis Ogolla, Gachagua said the circumstances surrounding the fatal military helicopter crash required greater transparency because Ogolla died while serving as the country’s top military officer. He questioned why a detailed report on the crash had not been made public and challenged President Ruto to explain the circumstances under which Ogolla travelled in the Bell Huey helicopter involved in the accident. Gachagua argued that the death of a serving Chief of Defence Forces was a matter of national importance and should be subjected to full public scrutiny.
Calls for DPP to Act
Gachagua ultimately called on the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to exercise his investigative powers and initiate public inquests into what he described as unresolved high-profile deaths over the past four years. He said such inquiries would help establish the facts, address public concerns and strengthen accountability within government. The former Deputy President maintained that Kenyans have a right to know what happened in cases involving prominent public figures and urged authorities to provide clear answers.
