The March 9, 2018 handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga is facing criticism from lawmakers, who feel that it may be ruining the country's future prospects.
On Tuesday, October 15, The Standard reported that many lawmakers had been looped into the handshake, making it difficult for them to go against their political wishes.
During a live show on Tuesday, October 15, Kandara MP Alice Wahome stated that the handshake had been abused by those who initiated it.
"Personally I would be uncomfortable for an opposition leader to go and beg the government.
"An opposition is supposed to be the checkmate of the government, not to work closely in an unholy reliance with the government. We need to strengthen the opposition," she remarked.
She further noted that the handshake had been misinterpreted and misunderstood by many Kenyans.
"I am on record previously saying that the handshake event did not translate into understanding by Kenyans and by lieutenants in the handshake. I think it has been abused and ends up being a curse. We expected it and we want it to be a blessing," she stated.
On Wednesday, October 10, MPs unanimously approved a Treasury notice to change the law and increase the cap for State borrowing to Sh9 trillion.
The move to increase the public debt had previously been countered by some politicians and economists, who state that the future generation would have a problem repaying it.
“Maintaining the current debt ceiling limits the ability of government to fully implement the 2019/20 budget and subsequent years,” Acting Treasury Secretary Ukur Yatani was quoted saying.
