DP Rigathi Gachagua: I'm not interested in a handshake with Raila

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. [File, Standard]

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said he is not interested in a "handshake" with Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya leader Raila Odinga.

Speaking at the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) in Limuru, Kiambu County on Thursday, April 6, the DP said the Kenya Kwanza administration does not intend to enter into a "handshake" arrangement with Azimio.

Gachagua says Odinga mistakes calls for bipartisan talks between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio as talks for sharing government positions.

"President Ruto informed us in advance that he would ask Odinga to call off the weekly protests to allow for bipartisan talks. I supported his suggestion. Odinga now says he cannot shake hands with me. Do I look like someone interested in shaking his hands?" Gachagua posed.

"Odinga has a way of corrupting good people. He corrupted our son, Uhuru Kenyatta. The former president was doing just fine until Odinga entered into his government. So, if there will be any form of handshake in the future between any government official and Odinga, count me, Gachagua, out," said the deputy president.

The DP's remarks come a day after Odinga said he wasn't interested in shaking hands with Gachagua.

In his speech at AIPCA, DP Gachagua dared Azimio leaders to make real their threats of returning to the streets should their conditions for bipartisan talks be ignored by Kenya Kwanza.

"I heard them threatening the government that they will return to demos [if the bipartisan negotiations fail]. We have no problem with that. The streets are there, and the government is still in place. I, however, want to caution them like I did last Saturday: no one will let any person destroy Kenyans' property under the guise of demonstrations," said Gachagua.