Speaking during a public function in Nyeri on Saturday, Gachagua claimed that Raila was trying to maintain relevance on both sides of the political aisle by deploying close allies to play conflicting roles.
"Raila has cleverly created two camps. One, led by Junet Mohamed, is there to praise the government and show cooperation. The other, led by Edwin Sifuna, is sent to make noise and pretend to oppose the same government," Gachagua said.
"He wants to eat from both sides, but Kenyans are not fools. We see through this political drama," he added, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd.
The comments come amid growing signs of internal division within ODM, the main opposition party under the Azimio coalition.
While some party leaders have embraced a spirit of cooperation with the Kenya Kwanza government following the Raila-Ruto truce earlier this year, others — notably ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna — have continued to voice strong criticism of the administration.
Sifuna has repeatedly insisted that ODM remains firmly in opposition and should not be seen to support President Ruto’s re-election in 2027.
In contrast, MPs close to Junet Mohamed have backed the Raila-Ruto working arrangement and have dismissed Sifuna’s recent outbursts as personal opinion.
Political analysts view Gachagua's remarks as a deliberate attempt to exploit the perceived fractures within the opposition.
By casting Raila as politically duplicitous, the Deputy President seeks to paint Azimio as disorganized and insincere in its role as a watchdog.
“It’s a classic divide-and-conquer tactic,” said Prof. Macharia Munene, a political analyst.
“Gachagua wants to weaken the opposition from within by amplifying the existing cracks and sowing public doubt about their unity and credibility.”
Gachagua also warned opposition leaders against "confusing Kenyans" with contradictory messages.
“One minute they are meeting the President to praise development, the next minute they are on TV saying Ruto must go. Which is which? They should decide if they are in government or opposition,” he said.
Raila Odinga has not publicly addressed Gachagua’s latest comments, but insiders within ODM suggest that the party leader is keen to maintain unity as he prepares to transition to a continental role following his bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship.
Last week, Raila called on party leaders to "speak in one voice" and avoid statements that could be interpreted as undermining party cohesion.
“We must not forget who we are and where we come from. Our unity is our strength,” Raila reportedly told a closed-door meeting of ODM leaders.
Still, the power struggle between moderates who favor political cooperation and hardliners who insist on a firm opposition stance appears to be intensifying — a dynamic that Gachagua seems eager to exploit.
As the 2027 general election approaches, the realignment of political forces is already underway.
The Raila-Ruto truce has unsettled traditional alliances, with some Azimio figures warming up to the government while others are preparing to chart an independent course.
Observers say Gachagua’s latest remarks are part of a broader strategy to consolidate Kenya Kwanza’s base while undermining the opposition’s moral authority.
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