Opposition leader Raila Odinga has reiterated that he will not enter into a handshake with President William Ruto.
Raila who was speaking in Luanda during the burial of two brothers who were brutally injured by police officers during the demos faulted the president for defending police brutality.
He said he was not ready to be part of a government that orders police officers to shoot and kill protesters who are exercising their democratic rights.
“Sisi tuko sasa kama wakenya na hakuna serikali. Serikali imegeuka kuwa wanyama…. Wanasema ati wako tayari kuongea na sisi lakini hakuna handshake. Handshake ya nini? Nani anaweza kusalimu mkono ambao umejaa damu ya watoto wetu?” Raila asked.
Loosely translated to: “We are now like Kenyans and there is no government. The government has turned into animals…. They say they are ready to talk to us but there is no handshake. Handshake for what? Who can greet a hand that is full of the blood of our children?”
The ODM leader mourned with the family, consoling them that justice would prevail.
“We stand united with Luanda, grieving the loss of innocent Kenyans to police brutality: Benjamin Imbi Miya and two brothers, Brian Oniang’o and William Amulele. We’ll continue to pursue justice for them as we work to remove the shadows of injustice that linger over our land,” Raila said.
It is understood that this is not the first time Raila is ruling out a handshake with President William Ruto.
In March 2023, Raila maintained that he will not enter into a handshake with an “illegitimate” government.
“Kenya Kwanza has continued to claim that all we are looking for is a handshake. We emphatically refute this unfounded rumor,
“This is an insult to the intelligence of Kenyans. We will not participate in a handshake with an illegitimate regime,” Raila said.
