Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Sunday, October 7, revealed that President Uhuru Kenyatta saved him from being charged with treason in 2018.
While addressing a congregation at Legio Maria church in Makongeni, the ODM party leader revealed that there were calls by Uhuru’s inner circle to have him charged with treason for holding a parallel swearing-in ceremony at Uhuru Park.
Raila went ahead to reveal that Uhuru rejected the calls and decided to hold peace talks which he stated led to the famous handshake.
“Uhuru was being told that Raila had crossed the line and that the swearing-in amounted to treason. They told him that I should be charged and hanged at Kamiti prison,”
“Uhuru declined the calls. We later met and had a lengthy discussion and we decided Kenya was bigger than all of us,” the ODM leader disclosed.
During his address, Raila acknowledged that the country was facing a trying moment adding that there was no shame in the decision that they took to shake hands.
"Without any shame, we decided to shake our hand publicly and unite the country through the handshake," the former PM stated.
While addressing a rally after the church service in Eastleigh in Nairobi County, the former premier revealed that he will announce his presidential candidature on December 9.
"I want all the youth and the women to be ready. On December 9, I will make an announcement," he revealed.
His revelation comes days after the Registrar of Political Parties confirmed the reservation of the name Azimio La Umoja to Suna East legislator Junet Mohamed.
Additionally, the former who has been popularising his candidature under the Azimio la Umoja campaign further hit on critics who have been critical of his Ksh6,000 social protection fund. He stated that there are several ways he could get the money.
“They are saying that all this propaganda yet it is a promise. They say that there is no money and I want to tell them that I have been a Prime Minister and I know where the money is,
“Last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta revealed that Ksh2 billion was being squandered daily. That is close to Ksh 700 billion every year. I know where the loopholes are and I will close them,” Raila explained.
