Foreign Powers Pressure Raila Into Handshake With Ruto

Azimio leader Raila Odinga and UK Ambassador Jane Marriott at the British High Commission on Wednesday, January 11, 2022.
UK Ambassador Jane Marriott and staff at the British High Commission receive Azimio leader Raila Odinga at the consulate on Wednesday, January 11, 2022.
Raila Odinga

A handshake between Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto could be in the offing, leaders close to the former Prime Minister have intimated. 

According to Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, some Western nations had initiated talks seeking to convince opposition parties, under the banner of the Azimio la Umoja coalition, to ease pressure and slow down on politics through their respective embassies in the country.

Revisiting 2013 when he was the running mate of the then-presidential candidate of Musalia Mudavadi, Kioni revealed that foreign powers in the country have always worked to reconcile political parties after every election cycle. 

He stated that he was privy to attempts of reconciling Azimio and the ruling party albeit without disclosing the stages in the intrigues.

Jubilee party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni at a past event.
Jubilee party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni at a past press event.
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Jubilee party

“After every election, you will see the Western nations through the embassies trying to talk to all parties that took part in the election, it happened when I was with Musalia and it has now happened, all those embassies will always be asking parties to work together,” Kioni stated while speaking to KTN News. 

Kioni’s revelations came days after opposition chief Raila Odinga led a delegation of leaders from the Azimio faction in a meeting with United Kingdom ambassador to Kenya Jane Marriot.

In a statement shared after the meeting, Marriot noted that the discussion centered around the importance of an effective opposition and development programmes in the country.

On his part, Odinga revealed that the meeting bordered on potential areas of collaboration between his side and the UK government. 

We discussed the situation in the country, and potential areas of collaboration, and agreed to consult on a regular basis to discuss matters of national and mutual interest," he stated. 

Speaking during a media roundtable with local media stations, President William Ruto reiterated that he was not intending to have a handshake with the opposing as a way of ensuring that the ability to promote democracy is bolstered.

This was despite earlier speculations that the government was planning to establish a cordial relationship with the opposition through the proposed creation of an Office of the Official Leader of Opposition. 

While clarifying his advocacy for the return of the Office of the Official Opposition, Ruto noted that the office was not meant for an individual as earlier interpreted by a section of Kenyans. 

He stated that the office was long-time coming and was in his plans even before ascending to the presidency. 

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From left: Ex-Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, Azimio leader Raila Odinga, Ambassador Jane Marriott and Minority Whip Junet Mohamed at the UK High Commission on January 11, 2022.
Raila Odinga