The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Hon Raila Odinga has narrated the origin of his handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta, whom he paid a glowing tribute to during the orange party’s NDC at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi on Friday.
Describing how he and President Uhuru Kenyatta agreed to put aside their political differences despite being arch-rivals in the last general elections, Mr. Odinga disclosed a memorandum he signed with the president set the country back on the right path, and wants the ongoing work to continue even after the president’s term ends in August.
”We were on the opposite sides in the elections. You all know the crisis that was there. Our people were on the streets and we took a hard stance. We had people dying. People were wounded in hospitals but we said we would continue and our supporters responded effectively,” he said.
”There was a crisis. People were drawing maps of Kenya. Peoples Republic of Kenya and the Republic of Kenya. Let us now move on, print our currency, and run our country. Under those circumstances, we came together and we had a very extensive discussion…
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As a result, we agreed with my brother Uhuru Kenyatta that Kenya is bigger than all of us and therefore we must come together. On that basis, we prepared a memorandum of understanding and shook hands, the handshake. And we said we will walk together, and Uhuru has never deviated from what we agreed on,” Mr. Odinga added.
The ODM leader hailed the Head of State for staying on course, despite a number of obstacles in his government and vowed to continue working closely with Uhuru Kenyatta.
”We said when we take over, we will continue with the work he had started and move on. This bond will not die with the elections. We will continue with the projects Uhuru has started in his government and we will work as a team. This bond will not die with the elections. We will just strengthen it. ”
