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For the first time since the 2022 Presidential elections, Kenyans witnessed a semblance of political unity on Saturday, May 13, thanks to the burial of independence struggle hero, Mukami Kimathi, the widow of Mau Mau freedom fighter Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi, who was buried at her home in Nyandarua.
Kimathi’s funeral brought the government and the opposition on the same stage, though politics and contemporary governance issues still took center stage.
In a dramatic moment in Kenya’s history, President William Ruto, Azimio leader Raila Odinga, and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua met at the function and shook hands, sparking thunderous applause from the crowd of mourners.
Even though the handshakes don’t carry the same significance as President Uhuru Kenyatta and Odinga handshake, they come at a moment when both parties said they were not interested in shaking each other’s hand in a way that would lead to participating in the government.
Odinga’s shaking Gachugua’s hand, whom he derogatorily calls “Gachietha,” a Dholuo insult likening the DP to excrement, was noteworthy since he said he’s not interested in ever shaking his hand.
When his time to deliver his speech came, Odinga largely centered his time on recounting the fight for independence and the role the Mau Mau liberation movement played. He also touched on tribalism and national unity, saying that back in the day, when Kenya was fighting to free itself from the maniacs of colonialism, there was no tribalism.
Odinga seemed to be attacking President Ruto’s administration, which has repeatedly been accused of fueling tribalism and ethnicity by giving most top state jobs to the Kalenjin and Kikuyu communities. The opposition leader asked Kenyans not to be divided by tribalism but united as Kenyans.
“Watu wote waliungana pamoja wakaanza mambo ya Uhuru…Uhuru wa Kenya ulikuja kwa sababu ya umoja wa wakenya, and we want Kenyans to continue being united,” Odinga said.
Odinga also asked the government to honor Mrs. Kimathi’s wishes to bring her husband’s remains from his burial place at Kamiti Maximum Prison to his home in Nyandarua.
In addition, the Azimio leader criticized the government for using brute force to respond to demonstrators and asked the President to shelve his plan of effecting the controversy-ridden Finance Bill 2023.
“Sisi tumetuma watu wetu na yeye ameleta watu wake waongee. Wakielewana sawasawa, lakini mimi ninamwambia ukweli. Gharama ya maisha imepanda, hapana leta ushuru mingi zaidi,,,punda amechoka. Jamaa wako hawakuambii, mimi ndio naweza kuambia tu, punda amechoka,” Odinga said.
“United Kenyans should continue speaking truth to power, hapana tishwa, hapana ogopa! Unaogopa nini? Sisi kama Azimio si wendawazimu…tuweze tu kuelewana. I have worked with Ruto for many years, he knows me very well…sometimes I see him akipiga kelele huko mimi naangalia tu, ninajua atapoa,” he added.
President Ruto said he had no problem with being checked by the opposition but asked the opposition to do so in other ways but violence.
“I agree to be corrected by Odinga. I want Azimio to hold my government accountable but not through violence and protests. We are friends, and I would like to ask him to allow me to serve the people of Kenya,” said Ruto.
He also responded to Odinga’s concerns about the high cost of living. Still, he blamed him and former President Uhuru Kenyatta, saying they increased the cost of living during the handshake.
“I agree with you that the cost of living is high. But when I joined, it was already high. It was ‘you people’ that worsened things,” Ruto said.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua seized the moment to remind Odinga once again that the Kenya Kwanza coalition won the election and Ruto is the President.
“Now that you are here let us be truthful, which will set us free. The truth is that Ruto won the election, and he is the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces. The election is over, and the next is in 2027,” Gachagua said.
Gachagua also appealed to Odinga to fight for the rights of the Mau Mau fighters so that they get their land back.
“Tunataka kukuomba kwa heshima Waziri Mkuu wa zamani ukitetea Wakenya kwa mambo zingine zote vile unaendelea, tunataka kusikia pia utetee hao watu warudishiwe mashamba yao na wale walichukua na mnawajua,” Gachagua said.
The DP also blamed the Handshake for “stealing all the money and taking it to the BBI,” thus causing the high cost of living.
Gachagua downplayed the issue of tribalism in the government, saying that the Kikuyu community deserves to be in the government because they voted for Ruto.
“Nimeona magazeti watu wakipiga kelele eti umeweka Wakikuyu wengi kwa serikali yako. Walikuwa wanataka tuende wapi? Tukiwa wengi kwa serikali ya Ruto iko makosa? Your Excellency, we are in your government by choice and by arrangement. Wale umeweka kwa serikali yetu tunashukuru. Endelea kuweka wengine,” he said.
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