Ruto's Bold Remark Upsets Raila

Orange Democratic Movement leader, Raila Odinga, faulted Deputy President William Ruto's claims that he approached the Deputy President William Ruto before reaching out to President Uhuru Kenyatta for the handshake.

Ruto, while on an interview with NTV's Ken Mijungu on Thursday, January 23, argued that he rejected Odinga's handshake proposal and did not regret it.

"I knew that Kenyatta was president and when I agreed to deputise him, I deferred my powers to him. He was the Jubilee Party leader and he was to lead the negotiations," Ruto opined, a statement which irked Odinga.

On Friday 24, Odinga reacted after meeting delegates in Mombasa, where he changed the venue of the BBI rally from Tononoka Grounds to Mama Ngina Waterfront Park. 

"I saw someone saying that I looked for him before I approached Kenyatta. I did not approach anyone. It was an agreement between me and the president," Odinga argued.

It wasn't the first time Ruto had made the claims. In April 2019, Ruto alleged that Odinga called him numerously seeking to make a truce, but the DP rejected, arguing that he sensed Odinga had a sinister move.

The Mombasa rally is highly anticipated, especially because it will be first BBI regional forum that the DP's allies will join ODM politicians, who have been enthusiastic about the event. 

Police were deployed to Mama Ngina Waterfront Park, as they predicted a fierce battle between the two rival camps. On Friday, January 24, Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa, a close confidant of Ruto, was cut short at a presser by youths whom she claimed were sent by Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho.

Ruto, however, did not confirm his attendance upon being asked whether he would attend. Replying to Ken Mijungu on NTV, Ruto stated that he would speak to Kenyatta first before deciding whether he would avail himself for the meeting.

His allies, led by Senate Majority Leader, Kipchumba Murkomen asserted that they would attend the meeting, despite Joho arguing that they would not be given a chance to speak at the rally.