President Kenyatta says he informed DP Ruto of handshake with Raila

President Uhuru Kenyatta now says Deputy President William Ruto has been misleading Kenyans on the conception and progress of his political handshake with Raila Odinga.

President Kenyatta says DP Ruto was aware of his efforts to seek a political truce, and revealed that the deputy president took a hardline stance over the protracted stalemate that followed the contentious 2017 election.

The events of March 9, 2018 have seemingly defined the political trajectory of the country, and in the process, hurting relations between the president and his deputy of nine years.

And it was a tell-it-all moment at the Sagana State Lodge on Wednesday as President Kenyatta bared details of the handshake and the acrimonious atmosphere that preceded.

“In 2017, we fought, we spoke badly, I insulted him, I called him ‘kimundu’ and you know that,” he said.

The president said he had been saddened by the events that followed the 2017 presidential elections and was keen on a truce with Odinga, but his deputy took a hardline stand.

“When we went and we spoke, we discussed and as we did, the one I was seated with (Ruto)…I was keeping him updated including the reason, I didn’t hide from him,” said the Head of State.

President Kenyatta said he chose peace and accordingly kept his deputy William Ruto informed.

“I told him in broad daylight that I would go, for this reason, and he agreed with me. The day I went to Harambee House, the last person I spoke to is the person I sit with (Ruto). I told him I am gone and I will shake this man (Raila’s) hand and this is the reason.”

The Head of State told of his pain watching his deputy distort the handshake details by claiming he was not informed.

And though he embraced Odinga, the President said he never went back on his pre-election deal with Ruto.

“I told him that I have an agreement with my deputy. And the agreement was that we had already formed the government. But now the agreement I want with you, which we need to agree, we cannot be waking up every morning to fight each other,” said the President.

President Kenyatta says the handshake resulted in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) through which he intended to pursue fair distribution of resources, based on population size of regions.

“And then a few people took us to court even after the masses having spoken. They started to say I am looking for a position,” he said.

President Kenyatta said he is not interested to extend his leadership through the BBI, as alleged by hiscritics.

“I thank you for the seat you gave me and for the time you gave me. My desire now is about the nation’s future, that we live as one. Those who opposed saying I was looking for a seat, when you will not be seeing me in the seat, who will be being cheated?” He posed.

The Head of State expressed fear that some leaders in Mt. Kenya region have been misleading the region’s youth, while others were afraid to tell them the truth. \

He called on the youth to study the region’s and the country’s history before making decisions that could impact on their future in ways unknown.