Rigathi Gachagua, Raila Odinga Meet In Nyandarua For Burial Of Freedom Fighter John Kiboko

• Opposition leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua once in a while shared an environment
• They were gracing the burial of the late John Kiboko, a renowned Mau Mau veteran from Nyandarua county
• Shelving political tirade this time, Raila caused a moment of laughter when he referred to his nemesis as Riggy G, the deputy president's pet name

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and former prime minister Raila Odinga shared a platform on Friday, August 25, when they both graced the burial of John Njigoya alias Kiboko.

The deceased's funeral event was held at the Ngorika Secondary School grounds, where Raila had arrived earlier than the deputy president.

Kiboko is a renowned Mau Mau veteran.

'Paying my last respects to Mau Mau freedom hero John Njigoya Kagwe, known as Brigadier Kiboko, at Ngorika Secondary School in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County. With other fighters, Brigadier Kiboko valiantly fought for our freedom from colonialists.

Today, we celebrate his immense contribution to the fight for our independence. My condolences to the family, friends and people of Nyandarua for the loss of Brigadier Kiboko," Rigathi mourned Kiboko.

This would be the second time the third time Raila and Rigathi share a platform simultaneously in the face of their political animosity.

They first met in Mombasa in September last year, with the deputy president expressing his delight in meeting Raila.

"We have tremendous respect for our senior citizens. I was delighted this morning to have a tete a tete with our senior citizen, former Prime Minister Rt Hon Raila Amolo Odinga, in Mombasa," he said.

The second time they would meet would be in May this year when they graced the sendoff of the late Mama Mukami Kimathi, the widow of deceased Mau Mau here Dedan Kimathi.

Raila's charitable act toward Kiboko

As it were, Raila took the mourners down memory lane as he appreciated Kiboko's contributions to delivering Kenya from the shackles of colonialism.

He revealed that he helped pay the hospital bill for Kiboko, who had been ailing for a while.

Raila disclosed that the family of Kiboko reached out to him after they failed to pay the KSh 600,000 hospital fee.

According to him, the family reached out to him after their effort to get the attention of the deputy president proved futile.

The opposition chief said the Mau Mau veteran was in a bad state before being admitted to the hospital.

Raila further divulged that he sought the intervention of his doctor, who cooperated with the medics at the facility Kiboko had been admitted to.

"I told my doctor to call the hospital for them to admit him since I was to facilitate all the payments. He was admitted after they had looked for Riggy G and didn't find him, but they got Baba," he said.

The Azimio leader took a light jibe at Rigathi for abandoning Mau Mau fighters after assuming the highest office in the country despite him claiming to be the son of a Mau Mau fighter.

In his defence, however, the deputy president said he showed up when the hospital bill had accrued to unmanageable levels.

"It's true you (Raila) helped mzee during his admission. But when the bill became huge, they looked for you but you told them to look for me because am the son of Mau Mau and we helped him together with the governor," said the deputy president.