Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga Silence Handshake Collapse Rumors After High-Stakes Karen Meeting
On Wednesday night, March 31, President Uhuru Kenyatta visited ODM leader Raila Odinga at his Karen home in Nairobi, in a meeting attended by Senate Minority Leader Siaya Orengo and National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohammed.
The two discussed a number of issues among them; the conflict surrounding the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and the 2022 succession politics.
Behind Closed Doors: Uhuru, Raila Hold Crisis Talks Over BBI and 2022 Politics
During their meeting, Odinga and the Head of State agreed to rally their troops to back the BBI agenda with Kenyatta assuring that all was well, despite the rumours that had been fueled in the last couple of days by some leaders.
Kenyatta allegedly expressed concerns with some of the statements made by Odinga’s allies, including Orengo, who were criticising government officials.
Their discussions were preceded by reports that the BBI secretariat offices had been closed and Interior PS Karanja Kibicho allegedly threatened the unity of the handshake.
Additionally, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and a close ally of the ODM leader had also wanted the referendum pushed to next year so that available resources could be used to deal with Covid-19.
BBI Crisis and 2022 Politics Take Center Stage
The claims were further fueled by the One Kenya Alliance of Kalonzo Musyoka, Musalia Mudavadi, Gideon Moi and Moses Wetang’ula’s move to isolate Odinga in their 2022 political strategy, forcing him to form a coalition with Deputy President William Ruto.
In a show of unity, Odinga and Kenyatta toured the City together on Thursday, in a bid to show their supporters that the handshake was still intact. The tour came just a day after ODM party announced that the former had tested negative for Covid-19.
“My partnership with Raila allows us to do this, to work together to bring development to our people. I want to thank Raila for coming with me. I thank God that he is now Covid negative,” the president said after the tour at State house.
On his part, Odinga expressed gratitude to the President for the chance to tour the city and inspect projects.
“Nimetoka nje kwa mara ya kwanza na Mungu ni mwema. Kwa wiki tatu nimekuwa katika hali mahututi (This is my first public appearance and God is good. For three weeks, I have been in critical condition,” the former premier said.
Conclusion
A day after their private meeting, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga publicly reaffirmed the strength of their political partnership by touring Nairobi together, dismissing speculation that the famous Handshake was on the verge of collapse. Their joint appearance signaled renewed commitment to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and demonstrated a united front despite growing political tensions, internal disagreements, and shifting alliances ahead of the 2022 General Election.
While the BBI process would later face significant legal and political hurdles, the meeting underscored the central role the Kenyatta–Odinga alliance played in shaping Kenya’s political landscape during that period, with far-reaching implications for governance, national unity, and the country’s democratic transition.
Source-https://www.kenyans.co.ke/
