Opposition leader refutes claims the handshake has brought problems within Jubilee Party

Orange party leader says building bridges team is expected to finish work in April and submit its report by May.

Opposition chief Raila Odinga is confident with the progress of the nine-point agenda as agreed between him and President Uhuru Kenyatta, culminating in the famous handshake.

One day short of a year after the surprise March 9, 2018 handshake, Raila is convinced his coming together with the President following the divisive August 8, 2017 presidential polls, is bearing fruits.

Speaking during a morning interview at a local FM station yesterday, the former prime minister commended the renewed energy in the fight against corruption, which, he said, had reached a toxic state. Raila supported Uhuru's commitment to the course “irrespective of who is caught up in the process”.

On 2022 politics, the ODM leader was categorical that the subject was not part of his deliberations with the Jubilee Party leader, saying they were keen on electoral justice.

“The emerging divisive politics since 2007/2008 polls that saw many people die was recurring. There was too much grudge and people did not want to see eye-to-eye. The two of us agreed that there was need to come together and calm the tension,” said Raila.

He added: The tension in the country was the reason we met for over 10 hours, talking about the issues at hand, before we put pen to paper. It was not a one-day event. We agreed to bury our differences and give an opportunity for the wounds to heal,” said Raila when he was interviewed at Kameme FM.

He said they decided to put aside their differences with Uhuru for the sake of the country.