Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has denied having any deal with President Uhuru Kenyatta, saying he has only embraced the handshake between the Head of State and ODM leader Raila Odinga for the sake of the country’s unity. Mr Musyoka said his decision to work with President Kenyatta does not have pre-conditions but is based on the need to heal the country after last year’s disputed general elections. “I don’t have any deal with President Kenyatta. I am on the negotiating table, whatever it is we will table it there. My commitment now is building bridges and healing this country,” he said.
So Uhuru-Kalonzo deal is not helpful because you were not given the chance to negotiate for it? The deal was meant for peace and we are enjoying the fruits of the handshake. pic.twitter.com/78iAJ1YoER
— Hon.Mbula Mutula (@mbulamutula) December 11, 2018
‘ERRAND BOY’
During the burial of his father last month in Tseikuru, Mr Musyoka endeared himself to President Kenyatta and even declared that he did not mind being the President’s “mtu wa mkono” (errand boy). “From today, let no one separate me and my brother Uhuru. I have accepted to run his errands. Those who will attempt to interfere will see my other side,” Mr Musyoka warned. The new dalliance of Mr Musyoka with Jubilee government saw him appointed the new head of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission on peace in South Sudan.
WIPER MEMBERS
But the remarks by the Wiper leader did not go down well with a section of his party members, with Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana accusing him of getting into a deal that has little to offer for Ukambani. However, speaking yesterday in Isinya, Kajiado East, Ms Musyoka said he has not met President Kenyatta to discuss any deal. Mr Musyoka said after the handshake, he took himself to the negotiating table so that the Kenyans he represents can have also have a say in the building bridges initiative.
Elsewhere, Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu has said the unity among political leaders that arose from the handshake should bring about inclusivity in government and spur development in order to pull Kenyans out of poverty. Speaking in Kyumbi, she said Mr Musyoka should invite the President to Ukambani region to chart the way forward on how the handshake will benefit residents.
PEACE
“It is good to appreciate a peaceful country, but we need to go further than that and ensure that our people are not suffering from problems that can be solved by the handshake,” said Ms Ngilu. She lamented that 55 years after independence, many Kenyans are still grappling with poverty, saying it’s the high time to take stock of the country’s leadership.
“This handshake should bring us together to see how we can use the resources we have to develop and help our youth to be productive.” She said many youth turned up in Kisumu during the President’s tour of the region hoping the new-found unity among leaders will translate into tangible gains. The governor said the unity should now be used to expedite key projects in Ukambani such as Thwake Dam and the Konza Technocity. “We cannot continue clapping for leaders who have not helped end poverty,” she said.
