Ledama Details Ruto-Raila Handshake Plot

President William Ruto’s move to create the office of the official opposition leader for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has continued to elicit mixed reactions, with allies from both sides reading from different scripts.

On Saturday, December 10, Narok Senator joined the list of leaders crafting different theories to decipher Ruto’s coded ‘squid game’. 

Ledama alleged that the President was on a plot to seal a back-door deal with his boss, the former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga. 

In his defence, Ledama, one of Raila’s staunch campaigners in the 2022 General Election, claimed that the clamour to offer Raila a constitutionally guaranteed position was by no means out of the blue.

Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina Speaking During past Interview

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Ledama Ole Kina

“President William Ruto seeking a “colourful” handshake with my party leader Raila Odinga through Parliament,” Senator Ledama Olekina alleged in a statement released on Saturday, December 10

Ledama added that Ruto sought a political truce with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader through appeasement and enticement tactics. 

“His recent letter to the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament depict a man whose future will be determined by application of 48 Laws of Power and not chest-thumping,” Ledama clarified.

He noted that the President had changed his hard stance on a handshake with Raila.

On Friday, December 9, Ruto wrote to Members of Parliament (MPs) in both the Senate and National Assembly, asking them to amend the Constitution and create an office for Raila. 

“The consequence is that the overall political leader of the minority side is effectively excluded from meaningful political participation, and left to rely on the minority house leadership to perform the function,” Ruto stated in the memo.

However, civil society leaders threatened to challenge Ruto’s directive, noting that it is unconstitutional.

Open Society Justice Initiative Kenya’s Strategic Litigation Director, Waikwa Wanyoike, warned Ruto against enforcing unlawful constitutional amendments.

“This is President William Ruto, Raila Odinga, and David Ndii’s foot-in-the-door strategy to mutilate the Constitution,” Waikwa alleged, asking Kenyans to reject the plan. 

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and President William Ruto.

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ODM and State House