Uhuru Puzzles Raila With New Handshake Demand

File image of President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) and Orange Democratic Movement leader, Raila Odinga (right)
File image of President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) and Orange Democratic Movement leader, Raila Odinga (right)
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ODM leader Raila Odinga is in a dilemma on whether to honour a demand issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee Party on their handshake deal

Kenyatta wants Odinga and his party to sign a formal deal that will seal their March 2018 gentleman's agreement. The two decided to work together to calm the political tension emanating from the controversial August 2017 General election. 

Insiders who spoke to The Nation said that the head of state wants Odinga to enjoy the fruits of the handshake, which birthed the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and has also seen several projects unveiled under Kenyatta's regime. 

Jubilee is also pushing ODM to enter into a formal agreement after the latter reportedly asked to be awarded the position of Nairobi County Deputy Governor. 

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Nairobi County Deputy Governor and Acting Governor Anne Kananu Mwenda takes the oath of office on Friday, January 16, 2021
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Anne Kananu / Twitter

ODM reportedly claimed to have played a role in impeaching former Governor Mike Sonko. New Deputy Governor Anne Kananu is poised to take over as governor. 

Odinga's party may opt to present a candidate who is aligned to the party and not necessarily a party member as a Deputy Governor nominee. 

In June 2020, ODM declined to enter into an agreement with Jubilee after former Vice President, Kalonzo Musyoka's Wiper Democratic Movement and Isaac Ruto's Chama Cha Maendeleo signed a deal with the ruling party. ODM, however, insisted that it would continue to partner with Jubilee and did not need to sign any formal deal.

Odinga held a crisis meeting with his key allies on Monday, January 19, to discuss the demand issued by Jubilee. 

"We don't need to have a formal agreement with Jubilee. All we need is to trust each other," ODM Chairman John Mbadi said, later on. 

However, trust issues are key to the new deal being sought by Kenyatta as Odinga has on numerous occasions asked his critics to distance him from Jubilee failures. His allies such as Siaya Senator James Orengo have also openly criticised Jubilee for unemployment and Kenya's high debt level.

Deputy President William Ruto hinted that Odinga and Kenyatta may be at loggerheads over the handshake deal, arguing that ODM wanted to pull out of the agreement after allegedly sabotaging the government. 

"He (Odinga) wants to revert the deal. Nonetheless, he wants to cause more chaos in the party. I left the BBI for them to handle and I focused on Jubilee's development agenda," Ruto claimed. 

DP William Ruto (left) and former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto in Bomet on January 15, 2021.
DP William Ruto (left) and former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto in Bomet on January 15, 2021.
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