Raila Hoping for “Handshake” – Ruto Says on Kamukunji Rally

President William Ruto says ODM leader Raila Odinga has scheduled a rally at Kamukunji grounds as a sham so that he can demand a handshake and join the government covertly.

The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance coalition party is meeting to debate recent revelations by a whistleblower about the handling of the General Election last year.

Last week, the opposition claimed that the whistleblower who allegedly works for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had revealed how the election was bungled in favour of President Ruto.

The Head of State on Sunday said that the elections were free and fair and that he would not be intimidated or bullied into submitting to Raila’s self-serving objectives.

Read: Azimio Claims Gov’t Harassing IEBC Staff, Demands Audit of Election Results

“This country will never be held hostage by blackmail, coercion, and intimidation at the expense of a few individuals. The end has arrived; let them be satisfied with what they gained from threats in previous regimes,” said Dr Ruto.

Ruto stated that his government has prioritised the revival of the economy and bringing Kenyans together. He also asked Kenya Kwanza leaders to prevent their rivals from sowing the seeds of discord in order to thwart their plans.

Additionally, he claimed that the tea and coffee cartels funded meetings leading up to the last general election, but he pledged to work with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to dismantle the cartels in the agricultural industry.

“The agriculture sector’s cartels in the coffee, tea, and dairy industry are financing the planned meetings, but we warn them that our farmers can no longer be slaves of brokers and cartels,” said the President.

Read Also: Raila Won August Polls with 8 Million Votes – Kioni Claims

The DP urged the President to give him control over handling the opposition while rejecting the whistleblower’s claims on the outcome of the election.

“He intimidated the administrations of Moi, Kibaki, and Uhuru, and the Presidents caved into his demands, but he will not succeed with President Ruto. I’ll deal with him in a week or two, and there will be no more noise,” said the former Mathira MP.

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, on his part, claimed the “whistleblower” was hired by the opposition hence his allegations were unfounded.

“There is nothing like a whistleblower; the person they claim is a whistleblower is known to us and was hired for $15,000 by Azimio to monitor the polls; they can’t convert their employee to a whistleblower,” Nyoro said.

Read Also: There was no “Handshake” Between Ruto, Raila – Senator Oginga Says

Raila who has been out of the country for the past week is expected to jet back on Monday afternoon after which he will attend the Kamukunji rally.

The former prime minister has been in South Africa.