Sakaja denies calling for a ‘handshake’ between gov’t and opposition
Governor of Nairobi Johnson Sakaja has denied claims that he urged President Willian Ruto to ‘handshake’ with the opposition.
This comes after Governor Sakaja on Sunday emphasized the need to “engage all leaders” in discussions and noted that the Kenya Kwanza administration discourages exclusionary politics.
“No individual desires a handshake or nusu mkate. But you must respect all leaders and be able to listen to their legitimate concerns “After a church service at St. Joseph Mukasa in Nairobi, he stated the following.
He added, “This country is greater than any one individual; it is our country, and everyone must feel equally Kenyan.”
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“The politics of exclusion is not Kenya Kwanza’s politics. The politics of Kenya Kwanza are inclusive, and I am aware that this is what the president stands for.”
A media outlet reported hours later that Governor Sakaja had demanded a handshake between President Ruto and the opposition, which angered the governor.
In a swift rebuttal, the governor stated that he had instead urged President Ruto to negotiate with the opposition to avert the nationwide mass action.
“Not accurate. I have not requested a handshake, but rather a conversation. Everyone deserves to be heard. There exists only one Kenya. No addenda, “He published on Twitter.
This comes amid unwavering statements from Vice President Rigathi Gachagua and the president that a handshake between the government and the opposition is impossible.
DP Gachagua has argued that a handshake agreement, similar to the ‘handshake’ between opposition leader Raila Odinga and former president Uhuru Kenyatta in March 2018, will destroy the nation.
“He (Raila) can persist against the opposition. Let the old man hear it from me: there will be no handshake on the slopes of Mount Kenya. President Ruto is only interested in shaking hands with hustlers for the Hustler Fund, Gachagua stated in a previous public address.
