The Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen has accused opposition leader Raila Odinga of using the handshake to further his own agenda, which is to “sweep away his rivals like a tsunami.”
Murkomen made the comments on K24 TV’s Punchline show on Sunday, going further to say that there is no difference between the handshake and Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
The handshake was the truce declared by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila in March 2018 to end political hostilities after two tense presidential elections.
But while President Kenyatta is focused on ensuring there is peace for his development agenda, according to Murkomen, Raila has been furthering his own political agenda, to eliminate his rivals ahead of 2022 General Election.
“The handshake of Uhuru Kenyatta is not the handshake of Raila Odinga,” said Murkomen who was responding to Anne Kiguta’s question on whether there is a way to differentiate the handshake from the BBI.
Murkomen accused the BBI team of criss-crossing the country, attending choreographed meetings in the name of getting the people’s views.
Mau evictions
On the question of the emotive Mau Forest evictions, the Deputy President’s ally said the government must compensate settlers.
“Go to court to declare the titles irregular. The Ndung’u Land report indicted everybody. As long as you have titles, to avoid anarchy in this country, we must follow the due process of law. And I am speaking as a lawyer,” said Murkomen.
Division of Revenue Bill row
Addressing the issue of the protracted and fruitless row pitting the National Assembly against the senators and governors, Murkomen said the Supreme Court failed to even out the field to force MPs to the negotiating table.
Last week, the Senate gave up the fight with the National Assembly over allocation to counties, warning that any further delays would cause financial crisis in the devolved units.
But Murkomen did not have kind words for the leadership of the Council of Governors, terming it weak and meek.
