The bitter exchange between the Deputy President William Ruto and the Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is steaming out revealing many hidden secrets.
The Deputy President William Ruto and his tangatanga team have used this fallout to demonize the handshake.
DP Ruto has boldly stated that Raila is determined to bring down Jubilee then expose them in 2022.
But this sentiments have not been received well by ODM legislatures.
ODM have termed the latest attacks sponsored by William Ruto are meant to make him gain political mileage for his 2022 Presidency.
Governor Cornel Rasanga, Senator James Orengo and Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi said ODM has no intention of splitting Jubilee.
“We want to assure our friend Ruto that, as ODM, we have no business in Jubilee. It is only that Raila decided to shake hands with Uhuru for the sake of unity, peace and development. How you run the affairs of your party is none of our business,” said Wandayi.
They accused some Jubilee leaders of living in “perpetual fear of Raila” and were ready to link him to real and imaginary problems.
“We want to tell them the tactics they used to campaign against Raila will not work for them this time round,” said Rasanga.
Orengo said the attacks on Raila were disrespectful to Uhuru, who he said, considers Raila his partner in development.
“Yesterday Ruto claimed Raila is wrecking Jubilee. But the truth is that his boss President Uhuru had extended an olive branch to him with a view to working with him to achieve development,” said Orengo.
Siaya Woman Rep Christine Ombaka and Ugenya ODM aspirant in next month’s by-election Chris Karan said some Jubilee leaders were angry at Raila because the unity between him and the President was bearing fruit.
Ruto allies have accused Raila of rocking Jubilee to promote his 2022 political interests.
In Mombasa, Likoni MP Mishi Mboko defended Uhuru and Raila from attacks by some Rift Valley leaders over the war on corruption.
She was reacting to claims by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi that the war on corruption had been politicised.
She accused the leaders of trying to derail the spirit of the Handshake by creating political tension in the country.
Mboko called on the National Cohesion and Integration Commission to take action against leaders who make inflammatory statements that can cause division.
She told Ruto’s allies to stop interfering with the work of institutions charged with fighting corruption.
“Why are Rift Valley MPs attacking the DCI’s office? Let investigations continue because this war is not targeting individuals,” said Mboko.
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula warned the acrimony between the two could affect national cohesion and asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene before the situation gets out of hand.
Speaking at a burial in Machakha, Sirisia, Wetang’ula said the Ruto-Raila rivalry was jeopardising Uhuru’s efforts to unite the country.
“Why are the two ripping each other apart despite the Building Bridges Initiative’s efforts to unite the country?” Wetang’ula asked.
The Ford Kenya leader asked Uhuru to rein in the two, even as he remains firm on the anti-corruption war.