The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party Raila Odinga has clarified that there is no handshake between him and President William Ruto. 

Speaking during the burial of Chirchir Masit at Chepkorio in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Tuesday August 13, 2024, Raila said that President Ruto is his friend and they had discussions on how to stop anti-government protests in the country. Chirchir Masit was the father of former IEBC commissioner Irene Masit.

“I am not in government. We never agreed with Ruto that we should have a coalition government. He requested me to help him identify people from my side to serve in his administration. I did exactly that. I am confident we shall move forward as a nation” said Raila.

Raila added that Uhuru had raised concern over the Gen Z protests, saying that the country was on the brink of collapse as a result of demonstrations.

“When the country was burning, former President Uhuru Kenyatta called me and asked me to reach out to President Ruto to find a solution to the issues being raised by Gen Zs. We talked and I told him my thoughts and how to deal with the situation.” 

“Uhuru said if the country went down, then we have no other country,” Raila added.

Raila recalled that after discussing with President Ruto over phone, they agreed to meet and discuss the security situation.

At the same time, the ODM leader noted that the Kenyan youth, mostly Gen Zs, had raised genuine concerns about the leadership in the country.

The protesters had wanted the President to solve issues of corruption and the high cost of living.

“When we spoke, I told Ruto that those he put in government, especially in Cabinet, were not serving the country and had to be removed,” Raila said.

In addition, Raila also discussed with the president about the performance of some principal secretaries, stating that they were not performing according to the expectations of Kenyans.

His remarks emerged at a time when Raila was being accused of having a handshake with President William Ruto, after 4 ODM leaders were appointed as cabinet secretaries in the Kenya Kwanza government.