This archive report was first published on 19 August 2019.
As the country heads into the 2022 elections, Deputy President William Ruto's team has been trying to find ways to undermine the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga, which was formed on March 9th, 2018.
One of the strategies employed by Ruto's team is to drag Raila Odinga's name into the 2022 presidential contest, despite the fact that Raila has consistently denied any plans to run for the presidency. This move is seen as a desperate attempt to create a narrative that Raila is not trustworthy and that the handshake was a ploy to further his own political interests.
However, Raila has refused to fall into Ruto's trap, and has instead focused on the issues facing the country, such as corruption, seclusion politics, and the erosion of national ethos. President Uhuru Kenyatta has also echoed Raila's sentiments, urging Kenyans to focus on the country's problems rather than getting bogged down in petty politics.
By dragging Raila's name into the 2022 politics, Ruto's team hopes to create a perception that Raila is running for the presidency, and that he has been hiding his true intentions under the guise of the handshake. However, this move is seen as a desperate attempt to undermine the handshake and to create a narrative that Raila is not trustworthy.
As the country heads into the 2022 elections, it remains to be seen whether Ruto's team will succeed in their attempts to undermine the handshake and to create a narrative that Raila is not trustworthy.
