Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has met the opposition leader Raila Odinga for the first time since the end of the third wave of antigovernment protests that placed them at loggerheads.
The two leaders met on Friday, August 25, at the burial of freedom fighter Brigadier John Kiboko in Olkalau in Nyandarua County.
Raila was the first to arrive at the burial ceremony and was welcomed by a crowd that cheered him on as family members guided him to the tent where mourners had gathered.
The former Prime Minister took time to greet people who were in the tent before sitting down. He shared pleasantries with local leaders and then sat down.
Minutes later, the Deputy President walked in and waved to the people.
Gachagua has since the end of the protests accused Raila of working to sabotage the government accusing him of seeking a share of power.
He has also accused claimed that Raila has been sponsoring young people together with former President Uhuru Kenyatta to cause chaos and disrupt the peace in the country.
Gachagua has fallen short of calling out the police over brutality which saw young people killed during the government protests. Instead, he has heaped praises, drawing criticism from the opposition side.
Raila on his side has taken aim at the government over what he has termed as mismanagement of the economy and failed election promises.
The veteran opposition chief wants an audit of the last elections, a lowering of the cost of living, and Kenya Kwanza to stop meddling in the affairs of Azimio.
Azimio has claimed that the government side has bought their MPs, reducing it to a minority in the legislature despite winning many seats compared to Kenya Kwanza in the August last year polls.
Previously, the Deputy President had criticised the Azimio la Umoja leader for his persistent calls for mass action in the country. He has accused Raila of trying to incite violence and disrupt the government.
"We are a democratic country and we will not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands," Gachagua stated. "We will deal with anyone who tries to incite violence."
Raila had called for mass action to protest against the high cost of living and to demand electoral reforms. He has said that the government has failed to address the needs of the people and that it is time for Kenyans to take action.
The government has dismissed Raila's calls for mass action, saying that they are unnecessary and will only lead to violence.
