Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has dismissed claims of a handshake between former President Uhuru Kenyatta and President William Ruto, clarifying that no formal agreement exists between the two leaders.
Speaking during an interview on Friday, December 27, the ODM leader explained that a handshake involves a written agreement outlining specific terms, which are then made public, as was the case in 2018 between himself and Uhuru.
“There is no handshake between Uhuru and Ruto. A handshake happens when parties agree on conditions, sign a document, and announce it to the people. That has not occurred in this instance,” Raila stated.
He also commented on Ruto’s decision to include Uhuru’s allies in his Cabinet, describing it as a political strategy to broaden the government’s representation rather than evidence of a handshake.
“Uhuru just greeted Ruto; it was not a handshake to work together. When Ruto said he wanted to form an inclusive government, he brought in some people from ODM and others from Jubilee. That alone does not constitute a handshake,” Raila added.
ODM and Cabinet Appointments
Raila reiterated that there was no handshake between him and Ruto, despite the inclusion of ODM members in the Cabinet.
“I do not have a handshake with Ruto because we have not agreed on a written document,” Raila emphasized.
Cabinet Reshuffle and Uhuru’s Allies
President Ruto met Uhuru at his Ichaweri home in Gatundu on December 9, and ten days later, he reorganized his Cabinet, appointing three allies of the former President.
The appointees included Mutahi Kagwe to the Agriculture docket, William Kabogo to ICT, and Lee Kinyanjui to the Trade docket.
Raila dismissed the appointments as part of a handshake, instead attributing them to Ruto’s efforts to create a more representative government.
